Mobile comparison shopping

ABSTRACT

Improved capabilities are disclosed for receiving a product selection from a mobile communication facility, identifying merchants that sell such product and products associated with the product selection, receiving information relating to the mobile communication facility and presenting an ordered list of merchants selling the product. In embodiments, based at least part on the information relating to the mobile communication facility, the list of merchants may be ordered. These and other capabilities are employed to provide systems and methods for comparison shopping that are adapted for mobile comparison shopping.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the following commonly-owned U.S.Provisional Patent Applications, each of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety: App. No. 60/717,151 filed on Sep. 14, 2005and entitled “SEARCH CAPABILITIES FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES,”App. No. 60/720,193 filed on Sep. 23, 2005 and entitled “MANAGING WEBINTERACTIONS ON A MOBILE COMMUNICATION FACILITY,” App. No. 60/731,991filed on Nov. 1, 2005 and entitled “MOBILE SEARCH,” and App. No.60/785,242 filed on Mar. 22, 2006 and entitled “AUTOMATED SYNDICATION OFMOBILE CONTENT.”

This application is also a continuation-in-part of each of the followingcommonly-owned U.S. patent applications: U.S. application Ser. No.11/267,940 filed on Nov. 5, 2005 and entitled “MANAGING SPONSOREDCONTENT FOR DELIVERY TO MOBILE COMMUNICATION FACILITIES”, U.S.application Ser. No. 11/268,671 filed on Nov. 5, 2005 and entitled“MANAGING PAYMENT FOR SPONSORED CONTENT PRESENTED TO MOBILECOMMUNICATION FACILITIES”, U.S. application Ser. No. 11/271,164 filed onNov. 11, 2005 and entitled “MANAGING SPONSORED CONTENT BASED ON DEVICECHARACTERISTICS”, U.S. application Ser. No. 11/274,993 filed on Nov. 14,2005 and entitled “PRESENTATION OF SPONSORED CONTENT ON MOBILECOMMUNICATION FACILITIES”, U.S. application Ser. No. 11/274,905 filed onNov. 14, 2005 and entitled “MANAGING SPONSORED CONTENT BASED ONGEOGRAPHIC REGION”, U.S. application Ser. No. 11/274,884 filed on Nov.14, 2005 and entitled “MANAGING SPONSORED CONTENT BASED ON TRANSACTIONHISTORY”, U.S. application Ser. No. 11/282,120 filed on Nov. 16, 2005and entitled “MANAGING SPONSORED CONTENT BASED ON USAGE HISTORY”, U.S.application Ser. No. 11/281,902 filed on Nov. 16, 2005 and entitled“MANAGING SPONSORED CONTENT BASED ON USER CHARACTERISTICS,” U.S.application Ser. No. 11/335,900 filed on Jan. 18, 2006 and entitled“MOBILE ADVERTISEMENT SYNDICATION,” U.S. application Ser. No. 11/335,904filed on Jan. 19, 2006 and entitled “PRESENTING SPONSORED CONTENT ON AMOBILE COMMUNICATION FACILITY,” U.S. application Ser. No. 11/337,233filed on Jan. 19, 2006 and entitled “LOCATION INFLUENCED SEARCHRESULTS,” U.S. application Ser. No. 11/337,234 filed on Jan. 19, 2006and entitled “MOBILE COMMUNICATION FACILITY CHARACTERISTIC INFLUENCEDSEARCH RESULTS,” U.S. application Ser. No. 11/336,432 filed on Jan. 19,2006 and entitled “USER HISTORY INFLUENCED SEARCH RESULTS,” U.S.application Ser. No. 11/337,180 filed on Jan. 19, 2006 and entitled“USER CHARACTERISTIC INFLUENCED SEARCH RESULTS,” U.S. application Ser.No. 11/337,112 filed on Jan. 19, 2006 and entitled “USER TRANSACTIONHISTORY INFLUENCED SEARCH RESULTS,” U.S. application Ser. No. 11/347,826filed on Feb. 3, 2006 and entitled “PREVENTING MOBILE COMMUNICATIONFACILITY CLICK FRAUD,” U.S. application Ser. No. 11/347,825 filed onFeb. 3, 2006 and entitled “SEARCH QUERY ADDRESS REDIRECTION ON A MOBILECOMMUNICATION FACILITY,” U.S. application Ser. No. 11/347,842 filed onFeb. 3, 2006 and entitled “MULTIMODAL SEARCH QUERY,” U.S. applicationSer. No. 11/355,915 filed on Feb. 16, 2006 and entitled “PRESENTATION OFSPONSORED CONTENT BASED ON MOBILE TRANSACTION EVENT,” U.S. applicationSer. No. 11/387,147 filed on Mar. 21, 2006 and entitled “INTERACTIONANALYSIS AND PRIORITIZATION OF MOBILE CONTENT,” U.S. App. No. 60/785,242filed on Mar. 22, 2006 and entitled “AUTOMATED SYNDICATION OF MOBILEINFORMATION,” U.S. application Ser. No. 11/413,273 filed on Apr. 27,2006 and entitled “CALCULATION AND PRESENTATION OF MOBILE CONTENTEXPECTED VALUE,” U.S. application Ser. No. 11/414,168 filed on Apr. 27,2006 and entitled “DYNAMIC BIDDING AND EXPECTED VALUE,” U.S. applicationSer. No. 11/414,740 filed on Apr. 27, 2006 and entitled “EXPECTED VALUEAND PRIORITIZATION OF MOBILE CONTENT,” U.S. application Ser. No.11/382,226 filed on May 8, 2006 and entitled “MOBILE SEARCH SUBSTRINGQUERY COMPLETION,” U.S. application Ser. No. 11/382,237 filed on May 8,2006 and entitled “IMPLICIT SEARCHING FOR MOBILE CONTENT,” U.S.application Ser. No. 11/382,243 filed on May 8, 2006 and entitled“MOBILE CONTENT SPIDERING AND COMPATIBILITY DETERMINATION,” U.S.application Ser. No. 11/382,246 filed on May 8, 2006 and entitled“CREATION OF A MOBILE SEARCH SUGGESTION DICTIONARY,” U.S. applicationSer. No. 11/382,249 filed on May 8, 2006 and entitled “MOBILEPAY-PER-CALL CAMPAIGN CREATION,” U.S. application Ser. No. 11/382,257filed on May 8, 2006 and entitled “MOBILE SEARCH SUGGESTIONS,” U.S.application Ser. No. 11/382,260 filed on May 8, 2006 and entitled“AUTHORIZED MOBILE CONTENT SEARCH RESULTS,” and U.S. application Ser.No. 11/382,262 filed on May 8, 2006 and entitled “INCREASING MOBILEINTERACTIVITY.”

Each of these applications is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to the field of mobile communications and moreparticularly to improved mobile content presentation for mobilecommunication facilities based at least in part on providing comparisonshopping of online and offline merchants in conjunction with a mobilesearch service.

BACKGROUND

Online search driven by Web-based search engines has proven to be one ofthe most significant uses of computer networks such as the Internet.Computer users can employ a variety of search tools to search forcontent using different user interfaces and search methods. In somecircumstances, mobile device users can also access Internet search toolsto search for content. However, users of many mobile devices such ascell phones encounter difficulties using search technologies intendedfor conventional online use. Difficulties include the inability todisplay appropriate content, difficulty entering queries and takingother suitable actions such as navigation in an environment adapted tofull screen displays, full-sized keyboards, and high-speed networkconnections. Furthermore, Internet search engines are currently unableto optimally deliver search results for a mobile communication facilitybecause these search engines are specifically designed for the Internetand not mobile uses. A need exists for improved search capabilitiesadapted for use with mobile communication devices.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a method and system disclosed herein includes receiving aproduct selection from a mobile communication facility, identifyingmerchants that sell such product and products associated with theproduct selection, receiving information relating to the mobilecommunication facility, and presenting an ordered list of merchantsselling the product. The ordering of the ordered list of merchants maybe based at least in part on the information relating to the mobilecommunication facility.

In embodiments the mobile communication facility may be a phone, amobile phone, a cellular phone or a GSM phone.

In embodiments, the product selection may be received through a searchquery. A search query may be an explicit search or an implicit search.In embodiments, the product selection may be received through aclickthrough. In embodiments, the product selection may be receivedthrough a barcode. In embodiments, the product selection may be receivedthrough a text entry. In embodiments, the product selection may bereceived through a touchscreen. In embodiments, the product selectionmay be received through a voice command. In embodiments, the productselection may be based on image recognition.

In embodiments, the product may comprise a service. In embodiments, themerchant may be a service provider.

In embodiments, the information relating to the mobile communicationfacility is a user characteristic. The user characteristic may be acharacteristic such as age, sex, race, religion, area code, zip code,home address, work address, billing address, credit information, familyinformation, income information, medical information, insuranceinformation, birth date, birth place, employer, job title, length ofemployment, and the like.

In embodiments, the information relating to the mobile communicationfacility may be a user history. In embodiments, the information relatingto the mobile communication facility may be a user transaction. Inembodiments, the information relating to the mobile communicationfacility may be a geographic location. In embodiments, the informationrelating to the mobile communication facility maybe a user device. Inembodiments, the information relating to the mobile communicationfacility may be a time. In embodiments, the information relating to themobile communication facility may be a mobile communication facilitycharacteristic. The mobile communication facility characteristic may bea characteristic such as display capability, display size, displayresolution, processing speed, audio capability, video capability, cachesize, storage capability, memory capacity, and the like.

In embodiments, the information relating to the mobile communicationfacility may be provided by a wireless operator. In embodiments, theinformation relating to the mobile communication facility may beprovided by a wireless service provider. In embodiments, the informationrelating to the mobile communication facility may be provided by atelecommunications service provider.

In embodiments, the ordered list of merchants may be ordered by aproduct description. In embodiments, the ordered list of merchants maybe ordered by product reviews. In embodiments, the ordered list ofmerchants may be ordered by inventory at current location. Inembodiments, the ordered list of merchants may be ordered by price atcurrent location. In embodiments, the ordered list of merchants may beordered by price at online location. In embodiments, the ordered list ofmerchants may be ordered by prices at local offline locations. Inembodiments, the ordered list of merchants may be ordered by inventoryat online locations. In embodiments, the ordered list of merchants maybe ordered by availability of specific services. In embodiments, theordered list of merchants may be ordered by quality ranking.

These and other systems, methods, objects, features, and advantages ofthe present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention and the following detailed description of certainembodiments thereof may be understood by reference to the followingfigures:

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless platform.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method for entering a search query, manipulatingthe query, and delivering search results.

FIG. 3 illustrates sample elements involved in disambiguating a searchquery.

FIG. 4 illustrates a generalized method for disambiguating a searchquery.

FIG. 5 illustrates a generalized method for ordering, displaying, andadding sponsorship information to search results.

FIG. 6 illustrates a mobile communication search facility.

FIG. 7A illustrates a mobile communication facility.

FIG. 7B illustrates a mobile communication facility.

FIG. 7C illustrates a mobile communication facility.

FIG. 8A illustrates a mobile communication facility.

FIG. 8B illustrates a mobile communication facility.

FIG. 8C illustrates a mobile communication facility.

FIG. 9 illustrates a series of screen shots associated with a search ona mobile communication facility.

FIG. 10 illustrates screen shots associated with a mobile communicationfacility.

FIG. 11 illustrates a method of obtaining relevant search results for auser and displaying the results on a mobile communication facility.

FIG. 12 illustrates a website prediction process based on misinformationentered in a mobile communication facility address bar.

FIG. 13 illustrates a search query process based on misinformationentered in a mobile communication facility address bar.

FIG. 14 illustrates a search query process based on misinformationentered in a mobile communication facility address bar.

FIG. 15 illustrates a redirection process based on misinformationentered in a mobile communication facility address bar.

FIG. 16 illustrates a mobile communication process for managingmisinformation entered in a mobile communication facility address bar.

FIG. 17 illustrates a mobile communication process for managingmisinformation entered in a mobile communication facility address bar,wherein at least a portion of the management is provided in associationwith a wireless provider.

FIG. 18 illustrates a sponsored links platform.

FIG. 19 illustrates a sponsor entry facility user interface.

FIG. 20 illustrates a process for mobile advertisement syndication.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The methods and systems disclosed herein relate to the domain of mobilecommunication facilities and to the domain of searches for content.

FIG. 1 represents a wireless search platform 100 for facilitating theaccess to and integration of multiple data sources and data types forpresentation on a mobile communication facility 102. The wireless searchplatform 100 includes a plurality of computer applications, devices,components, facilities, and systems, as well as a plurality of datafacilities, including various data sources. The foregoing may becentrally located or geographically dispersed, may be locally and/orremotely interconnected, and may consist of distinct components or beintegrated into combined systems. In the illustrated embodiment, thewireless search platform 100 architecture facilitates the processing ofuser-initiated queries entered into a query entry system 120 of a mobilecommunication facility 102. The mobile communication facility 102 maytransmit this query to or via a wireless communication facility 104 forfurther processing and/or routing to data sources and/or processingfacilities, such as one or more servers, such as HTTP servers or otherservers that are suitable for handling data that are transmitted overcomputer networks. In embodiments, the wireless communication facility104 may be linked to a locator facility 110 that generates informationabout the location of the user (including geographic location, proximityto other locations, network location, or other location information).The locator facility 110 may enable linkage of other information, suchas information about a user query, with information about the user'sgeographic location at the time the query was initiated.

The wireless communication facility 104 may link directly to a wirelessprovider 108 such as a corporation or carrier providing the user'scellular phone service (e.g., Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, etc) or otherwireless communication service. The wireless provider 108 may, in turn,have a number of proprietary databases from which it can obtaininformation that may be relevant to a user, such as to operateappropriately in response to a query entered by a user. For example, thewireless provider 108 may have access to a database containing carrierbusiness rules 130 describing the proper handling of user queries. Thewireless provider 108 may have access to a database containing themobile subscriber characteristics 112 (e.g., age, address, customerhistory, call volumes, call histories, patterns in call histories, etc.)that, in turn, are linked to the Internet and through which it canaccess additional servers 134 and data sources 138. The wirelessprovider 108 may also have access to a “content walled garden” database132 containing information from the wireless provider's 108 businesspartners from which the wireless provider 108 derives additionaladvertising or profit sharing revenues, such as content relating to cellphone offers, content relating to other services provided by thewireless provider, premium content that is paid for by the user, orcontent suitable for a mobile communication facility (such as aringtone). The wireless provider 108 may also link the user query withsponsor information residing in a sponsor database 128 or with anotherdata facility 124.

The wireless search platform 100 may include mobile search hostfacilities 114. The mobile search host facilities 114 may include one ormore facilities for disambiguation 140, searching 142,algorithms/filters 144, results 148, parental controls 150, privacy 152,transactional security 154, carrier business rules 158, voicerecognition 160, sponsorship 162, and/or implicit query 164, eitheralone or in combination. A search may be initiated on a phone idlescreen (which may be coupled with one or more implicit queries), aWireless Access Protocol (“WAP”) site, a mobile storefront, or from ahighlighted selection of text (e.g., from a website, email, SMS, orother format), or the search may be triggered by other website or local(e.g., cellular phone or other wireless device) activity. The mobilesearch host facilities 114 may link to additional databases 168 and datafacilities 170. The mobile search host facilities may be accessedthrough the Internet, through the wireless provider 108, through thewireless communication facility 104, through other mobile communicationfacilities 104, or directly from the mobile communication facility 102.As indicated with the dashed lines on FIG. 1, the mobile search hostfacilities 114, either separately or in combination, may reside locallyon the mobile communication facility 102, on the wireless communicationfacility 104, or on the wireless provider 108, or may be accessibleexternally through a network, or otherwise accessible, to perform thefunctions described herein.

The wireless search platform 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may contain amobile communication facility 102. The mobile communication facility 102may be a device (e.g., a cellular phone, Blackberry, wireless electronicmail device, personal digital assistant, or device combining a number ofthese devices) utilizing a mobile communications protocol, system ortechnology, such as the advanced mobile phone system (AMPS), codedivision multiple access (CDMA), wideband code division multiple access(W-CDMA), global system for mobile communications (GSM), universalmobile telecommunications system (UTMS), integrated digital enhancednetwork (iDEN), and/or time division multiple access (TDMA). The mobilecommunication facility 102 may be a device utilizing one or morechipsets, such as the BREW chipset and/or operating system, and/orBluetooth technologies.

In embodiments the mobile communication facility 102 may be any devicecapable of wireless communication, including, but not limited to amobile phone, cell phone, satellite phone, walkie-talkie, handhelddevice, personal digital assistant (PDA), mobile network appliance, oran email, instant messaging, or chat device. The phone embodiment of themobile communication facility 102 may be a cellular phone, satellitephone, a straight phone (i.e. “candy bar” phone), flip phone (i.e.,“clamshell phone”), sliding top phone, wireless phone, 3G phone, globalpositioning system (GPS) phone, MP3 phone, music phone, or other mobilephone operating system utilizing MIDP compatible software, Symbian, oranother proprietary operating system (e.g., Nokia, Sony Ericsson,Motorola, LG, Samsung, Sanyo, or Toshiba). The PDA embodiment of themobile communication facility 102 may be a combination PDA/phone, and/ora GPS PDA, and may utilize operating systems including Palm, Windows,PocketPC, Psion, and/or PocketLinux. The mobile network applianceembodiment of the mobile communication facility 102 may be a webappliance, network appliance, or a GPS network appliance. Email, instantmessaging, and chat device embodiments of the mobile communicationfacility 102 may include appliances, such as the Blackberry, Treo, orSideKick. The device may also, or instead, include a portable computersuch as a laptop computer wireless coupled to a data network using,e.g., WiFi, WiMax, or cellular data communications.

The mobile communication facility 102 may facilitate the collection ofdata from data sources as a result of a query entry 120 or voice entry122. Query entry 120 may be accomplished through the use of a numerickey pad entry, full mobile device keyboard entry (e.g., that found on aBlackberry or Treo device), partial mobile device keyboard entry (e.g.,that found on a Blackberry device with only one key for every twoletters), stylus/handwriting entry, bar code scanner (either 2D bar codeor 3D bar code: “Quick Response Code”), or photographic entry usingcellular phone-camera; through other navigational facilities (e.g., astylus, arrow keys, scroll wheel, etc.); or through access to a computernetwork, such as through a physical connection (e.g., Ethernet or othernetwork cable, wire, or the like), or through infrared, RF, Bluetooth orother wireless query entry. In embodiments, communication to the mobilecommunication facility may be compressed at the server and uncompressedat the mobile communication facility to accelerate data communicationover a slow network.

Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile communication facility may be adapted withan address bar 174. The address bar 174 may be generated using a clientapplication interface, for example. The address bar may be presented ina graphical user interface on a display associated with the mobilecommunication facility 102. The address bar 174 may be provided to allowa user to enter a URL, website, key words, search terms and the like. Inembodiments, the user is presented with an address bar 174 and the usermay enter a known URL (e.g. www.jumptap.com) into the address bar. Onceentered, the user may initiate a process to facilitate the connection ofthe mobile communication facility 102 with the website associated withthe URL. For example, the process may involve searching the Internet fora website with the entered URL. Once located, the website may be loadedand displayed on a display associated with the mobile communicationfacility 102.

The voice entry 122 function of the mobile communication facility may beused through the speaker-receiver device of the mobile communicationfacility 102 or by use of the standard SMS lexicon and syntax, and itmay be adaptive to individual users' voice commands and usage patternsthat are stored on and accessed from the mobile subscribercharacteristics database 112. The voice entry 122 function may permitvoice dialing, voice memo, voice recognition, speech recognition, orother functions related to audible input.

The mobile communication facility 102 may operate using a variety ofoperating systems, including, Series 60 (Symbian), UIQ (Symbian),Windows Mobile for Smartphones, Palm OS, and Windows Mobile for PocketPC's. The display type used by the mobile communication facility 102 maybe a black and white LCD, grayscale LCD, color LCD, color STN LCD, colorTFT/TFD LCD, plasma, LED, OLED, fluorescent backlit, LED backlit,projection, flat screen, passive matrix, active matrix, or touch screen.The screen size may be small, medium, or large. In addition, the mobilecommunication facility 102 may have a secondary display, such as thatsituated on the outside of a clamshell-type cellular phone, that isvisible to the user when the primary display is not, due to theclamshell phone being closed. In embodiments the mobile communicationfacility 102 may have more than one secondary display.

The mobile communication facility 102 may include one or more ports,slots, or similar facilities to accommodate expansion cards, such as aMultiMediaCard (MMC), a MMC/Secure Digital (SD), an RS-MMC 3 v, anRS-MMC 1.8 v/MMCmobile, miniSD, TransFlash/microSD, a USB-based memorydevice, SIM card, or a Memory Stick Duo. The mobile communicationfacility 102 may also accommodate high-speed data communications byutilizing GPRS, EGPRS (EDGE), 1xRTT, 1xEV-DO r0, WCDMA (UMTS), or iDENprotocols. Additional features of the mobile communication facility 102may include any of the following: a hard drive, GPS/location capability,GAIT, an FM radio, infrared technology, an integrated PDA, Java (J2ME),MMS, music player, poly or mono ringtone capability, predictive textentry, push-to-talk technology, ringer ID, ringer profiles, side keys,speaker phone, SyncML, text keyboard, text messaging, text messagingtemplates, to-do list generation, touch screen, USB ports, WiFitechnology, and wireless Internet. The mobile communication facility 102may also contain a data facility 118 for the storage of PIM data, IMlogs, MMS logs, SMS logs, email logs, downloaded media, and a suggestionand results cache. The mobile communications facility 102 may include anoperating system that is capable of running applications, such asmultimedia applications, word processing applications, and the like.

The mobile communication facility 102 may transmit and/or receive datato/from the wireless communication facility 104, mobile subscribercharacteristics database 112, and/or any of the mobile search hostfacilities 114 by utilizing an internal antenna, a stub antenna, a patchantenna, an antenna array, a stub/extendable antenna, or an extendableantenna.

The mobile communication facility 102 may have an embedded cameraenabling it to capture and transmit graphic data to the wirelesscommunication facility 104, mobile subscriber characteristics database112, and/or any of the mobile search host facilities 114. The resolutionof the camera may be any of the following, or any other suitable cameraresolution: CIF (352×288), VGA (640×480), SVGA (800×600), 1+ megapixels,2+ megapixels, or 3+ megapixels. The graphic capabilities of the mobilecommunication facility 102 may also include EMS picture messaging,picture ID, video capture, video calling, video messaging, PictBridge,and/or streaming multimedia.

The mobile communication facility 102 may have the hardware and/orsoftware components enabling use of the mobile communication facility102 via an optical mouse and/or wired mouse.

The wireless search platform 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may contain awireless communication facility 104. The wireless communication facility104 may be, for example, a cellular telephone tower that routes theuser's query. It may be associated with a wireless provider 108, alocator facility 110, or mobile search host facilities 114. The wirelesssearch platform 100 may include a wireless provider 108.

The wireless search platform 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may contain alocator facility 110 enabling the collection of geographic or otherlocation data on users of mobile communication facilities 102. A locatorfacility 110 may be based upon (i) a Cell-sector System that collectsinformation pertaining to cell and sector ID's, (ii) the Assisted-GlobalPositioning Satellite (A-GPS) technology utilizing a GPS chipset in themobile communication facility 102, (iii) standard GPS technology, (iv)Enhanced-Observed Time Difference (E-OTD) technology utilizing softwareresiding on a server and within the mobile communication facility 102that uses signal transmission of time differences received bygeographically dispersed wireless communication facilities 104 topinpoint a user's location, (v) Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA), (vi)Time of Arrival (TOA), (vii) Angle of Arrival (AOA), (viii) TDOA-AOA,(ix) triangulation of cellular signals, (x) triangulation based onreceipt of broadcast TV signals, (xi) location based on dead reckoning,(xii) location based on proximity to known locations (includinglocations of other mobile communications facilities 102), (xiii)map-based location, or any combination of any of the foregoing, as wellas other location facilities known to those of skill in the art.

In embodiments, the mobile communication facility 102 may use a locatorfacility 110 (e.g. GPS system) to locate itself in its present location,or locations of interest to the user, whether explicitly stated ordetermined by PIM data, location history, or previous searches. Inembodiments, the location may be transmitted back to the locatorfacility 110 for dissemination, processing, etc. Geographic informationsystems may also be used to determine a location point in a polygon, alocation radius search, route calculation, points of interest, and/orgeocoding and reverse geocoding. In embodiments, a user's location mayalso be self-entered into the wireless platform by the user. Forexample, the user may type in (or speak through a voice recognitionsystem) an address, zip code, or other location information.

In an embodiment, a GPS system may be used as the locator facility. TheGPS system consists of a group of satellites (>20) carrying atomicclocks that orbit the Earth twice a day. Earth-based observatoriesrecord orbital data related to the motion of the satellites. In order todetermine global positioning, a GPS receiver (e.g. one disposed insideof the mobile communication facility) must communicate with four of theGPS satellites. The receiver computes its distance from each of the foursatellites to determine its latitude, longitude, elevation, and time ofday. The receiver computes the distance to each of the four satellitesby calculating the difference between local time and the time thesatellite signals were sent and then decodes the satellites' locationsfrom their radio signals and an internal database. The location of theGPS receiver is located at the intersection of the four spheres createdby the four satellites, where each radius is equal to the time delaybetween the satellite and the receiver multiplied by the speed of theradio signals. The differences permit calculation of three hyperboloidsof revolution of two sheets, the intersection point of which gives theprecise location of the receiver. If the elevation of the receiver isknown, it is possible to compute precise location using only threesatellites.

The wireless search platform 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may contain adata facility containing mobile subscriber characteristics 112pertaining to individual users of a mobile communication facility 102.This data may include, but is not limited to, data collected by thewireless provider 108 when an individual opens a wireless account, suchas age, sex, race, religion, area code, home address, work address,billing address, credit card information, passwords, family information(e.g., mother's maiden name), birthplace, driver's license number,employer, position, annual income, income bracket, items purchased,friends and family information (including any of the foregoing types ofinformation) and the like. The mobile subscriber characteristicsfacility 112 may continually, or periodically, update data forindividual users, for example, bill amount(s), average bill total,payment history, on-time payment history, on-line usage amount, durationof on-line interactions, number of on-line interactions, family statusand family information, number of children, shopping habits (e.g., viewsof or purchases of goods and services) click stream information, devicetype and device version, device characteristics, usage patterns(including those based on location, time of day, or other variables),device and/or subscriber unique identifiers, content viewing history,content presented for viewed by/not viewed by user, content and programsdownloaded, videos, music, and audio listened to and/or downloaded,television watched, timing and duration of viewing/downloading,transaction history, and any other user or user defined characteristics.The purchase of physical goods may be facilitated by a wireless provider108 by having the wireless provider 108 collect the user's credit cardinformation as part of the billing cycle and adding goods transactionsautomatically to the wireless provider's bill to the user.

The mobile subscriber characteristics 112 database may also track datarelated to phone usage and location. For example, data collected couldinclude a history of phone calls made, phone calls received, the mobilesubscriber characteristics of the persons calling or called by the user,the duration of calls, a history of communications made via phone,Internet, email, instant messaging, or chat (and the entitiescommunicated with by these technologies), history of phone calls madelinked with geographic/location information at the time of each call,log of phone numbers, and a history of clicks and clickthroughs (orother keystroke or user interface equivalents thereof, includingvoice-initiated actions) made using the mobile communication facility102.

FIG. 1 illustrates a sponsorship facility 175 associated with a sponsordatabase 128 according to the principles of the present invention. Asponsorship facility 175 may be provided by a corporation, anindividual, or some other entity sponsoring results as described herein.

The wireless search platform 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may containmobile search host facilities 114. Within the mobile search hostfacility 114 there may be other facilities, including, but not limitedto, a disambiguation facility 140, search facility 142, algorithmfacility 144, results facility 148, parental control facility 150,privacy facility 152, transactional security facility 154, carrierbusiness rules facility 158, voice recognition facility 160, sponsorshipfacility 162, and/or an implicit query facility 164. The mobile searchhost facility 114 may also link to another data facility 170.

The disambiguation facility 140 may complete or provide more meaning toambiguous active user inputs. The disambiguation facility 140 mayinclude SMS lingo translation, single word initial substring completion,multiple word substring completion, stem completion (e.g., single intoplural format, verb into gerund), thesaurus lookups for homonyms orsynonyms, spell check algorithms, spell check tables, phonetic spellingalgorithms, phonetic spelling tables, phone number keypad to wordconversion (including completion of possible substrings from numbersequence), frequency-based algorithms, semantic analysis algorithms,location-based algorithms or other algorithms or facilities for reducingambiguity as to the meaning of a query or partial query entered by auser.

The search facility 142 may initiate a search, such as by causing aquery (optionally a disambiguated query) to be executed on a searchfacility, such as a search engine. The search engine might be a searchfacility that is based on Boolean search logic, categories of results,term frequencies, document frequencies, documents selected by otherusers who have entered similar queries, link structures of possibleresults, or any other known search facilities using any other knownsearch algorithm.

A mobile search service (e.g. as disclosed herein) may be accessed by auser through a user interface of a mobile communication facility 102such as a mobile phone, a cellular phone, satellite phone, a GSM phoneor other phone type. The mobile communication facility 102 may need tobe activated to access the mobile search service. A mobile communicationfacility 102 may be activated by a user taking an action. The action maybe different for different phone embodiments of a mobile communicationfacility 102. For example, a flip or folding phone may be activated byunfolding or flipping open the phone. In another example, a straightphone may be activated by depressing a key on the phone keypad for apredetermined length of time. A sliding top or twist top phone may beactivated by sliding or twisting open (respectively) the top to reveal auser interface of the phone. Other phone methods of activating a phonebased on the phone embodiment are also possible. A phone may beactivated by turning on the phone. Turing on the phone may includeattaching a battery to the phone, plugging the phone into a power sourcesuch as a desktop charger or an automobile charger, switching the phonepower switch, depressing a key on a phone user interface for a minimumtime, and the like. A phone may be activated by unlocking the phonewhich may include a user entering an activation code into the phonethrough the phone user interface, or by speaking the activation codeinto the phone microphone.

Activating a phone may enable a user to have access to one or morefeatures and functions of the phone such as making a call, answering acall, navigating menus of the user interface, using a mobile searchservice, and the like. Some features and functions may require a user tofirst activate the feature or function through the user interface, suchas reviewing call history. Other features may be activated immediatelywhen the phone is activated. As an example, a user can often immediatelyenter a telephone number to initiate a call without first activating acall feature of the phone.

In embodiments, a mobile search service (e.g. as disclosed herein) maybe activated immediately when a phone is activated. A mobile searchservice, accessed through a search box 908 of a mobile communicationfacility 102 user interface, may be activated at the time a phone isactivated such that a user can immediately enter a search item in thesearch box 908. As an example, immediately after a user flips open aflip phone, a mobile search service search box 908 may be presented andactivated such that a query entry 120 through the user interface may beentered in the search box 908. To further this example, a user may flipopen their flip phone and immediately enter the name of their localsports team through the phone user interface. The mobile search servicemay provide search results through the phone user interface. In additionto the search box 908 receiving input from the user interfaceimmediately after the phone is activated, the mobile search servicesearch box 908 may also receive voice entry 122.

The mobile search service search box 908 and entries it is receiving maybe presented on the display of the phone which may also include anindicator, controlled through the user interface, of the current stateof the keypad and voice entry mode of the phone. In embodiments, theindicator may indicate when the phone is enabled to place and receivephone calls and when it is enabled to access the mobile search service.The indicator may be an aspect of the search box 908, or a separateindication on the display of the phone. As an example, the search box908 may display reduced contrast entries in the box, such as graying outthe entry, when the phone state enables placing and receiving calls. Inanother example, the search box 908 may include a blinking cursor at thepoint of entry when the phone is enabled to access the mobile searchservice. A phone call/search service state indicator may be beneficialwhen a mobile communication facility 102 has been activated such thatthe user interface display is active but the phone has not yet completedan initialization operation such as connecting to a wireless network. Inan example, a mobile search service search box 908 may be presentedimmediately upon activating the phone but may be activated in closetemporal proximity, such as within 5 seconds of activating the phone.

Upon activation, the mobile search service search box 908 may bepredetermined either as a network search box, a wireless carrier'swalled garden content 132 search box, or other mobile content searchbox. Alternatively, a user may select, through a feature of the userinterface, whether the search box 908 type upon activation.Alternatively, the user selection may be temporary, wherein the mobilesearch service search box 908 returns to the predetermined selection thenext time the phone is activated. The mobile search service search box908 may be related to a search vertical which may be a general search,or may be related to a vertical search of one or more of the following:ring tones, images, games, a yellow pages, weather, a white pages, newsheadlines, WAP sites, web sites, movie show times, sports scores, stockquotes, flight times, maps, directions, a price comparison, WIFIhotspots, package tracking, hotel rates, fantasy sports stats,horoscopes, answers, a dictionary, area codes, zip codes, entertainment,blogs, and other mobile content associated with a search vertical.

In embodiments, the search box may be presented upon activating thephone and the search box may be adapted to relate to a specific searchmethodology. For example, the search box may be adapted to providelocalized or personalized (e.g. searching in relation to mobilesubscriber characteristics and the like as described herein). The searchbox may also be adapted to target results based on time of day. Forexample, the search user interface may be adapted to produce localizedresults and the keywords, filters, algorithms or other search parametersidentifying the relevant local results may change as a result of thetime of day. So if the user opens his flip phone and is presented withthe search box, he may perform a search and the results may be localizedand they may be tailored to the time of day. At 6:00 pm the searchresults may pertain, at least in part, to dinner options, while a searchrun at 8:00 pm may relate to entertainment. In embodiments, the defaultsearch methodology preferences are settable by the user. The user may beable to set the type of search that he would like to perform as adefault when presented with the search facility upon activation of thephone. The user may also be presented with options (e.g. menu options)through which he can select a new search temporary search methodology.

In embodiments, a user may access a mobile search application with amobile communication facility 102. The mobile search application mayinclude user interface screens generated by the client applicationinterface described herein. A user accessing the mobile searchapplication may navigate through selections of the user interfacescreens. A method of navigating the mobile search application mayinclude receiving information relating to a physical movement of themobile communication facility 102, and linking the physical movementwith navigation through selections of the user interface screens. Thelink between the physical movement of the mobile communication device102 and the mobile search application may be based, at least in part, onmapping a three dimensional space of the physical movement onto atwo-dimensional space of a menu structure displayed on the mobilecommunication facility display 172.

The client application interface may receive input from a motiondetection device. The motion detection device may detect motion of themobile communication facility 102 relative to an external object, or itmay detect motion relative to a previous position in the threedimensional space.

In one embodiment, the mobile communication facility 102 may be equippedwith a camera. The camera may acquire a sequence of images within thecamera's field of view (e.g. images of the user's face) and presentthese images to the client application interface which may analyze thesequence of images to determine a motion of the mobile communicationfacility 102.

In another embodiment, the mobile communication facility 102 may includea motion detector such as an accelerometer or a gyroscope. The clientapplication interface may monitor data recorded in or data output fromthe accelerometer, gyroscope, sensor, or other motion detector facilityanalyzing the data to determine a motion of the mobile communicationfacility 102.

The motion of the mobile communication facility 102 may be caused by theuser physically moving the mobile communication facility 102. Thisphysical movement may include raising or lowering the mobilecommunication facility 102 which may be represented by a change in themenu selections or the user interface screens visible on the mobilecommunication facility display 172. As an example, raising the mobilecommunication facility 102 may result in the user interface screendisplaying a higher level of menu structure selections. In anotherexample, the user may tilt the mobile communication facility 102resulting in a portion of the mobile communication facility 102 raisingand an opposing portion lowering. Tilting may result in the menuselection returning to a previous menu selection, much like an “undo”command on a graphical computer user interface. In another example,raising the mobile communication facility 102 may result in the mobilesearch application display to zoom out. Such an example may be usefulwhen the search application display is an image of a map or a satelliteimage. Lowering the mobile communication facility 102 may result inzooming in on the display, thereby providing further detail of featuresor selection.

In other embodiments, the user, or someone assisting the user, may movethe mobile communication facility 102 in one or more horizontaldirections such as left, right, forward, backward, and diagonally, withthe motion causing an associated change in the menu selection of theuser interface screen. As an example, a right horizontal motion mayresult in highlighting of a mobile search application selection that isdisplayed to the right of the currently highlighted selection. Asanother example, a backward motion, herein defined as a horizontalmotion generally in the direction of the user holding the mobilecommunication facility 102, may result in highlighting a menu selectioncloser to the user on the mobile communication facility display 172 thanthe current menu selection. Generally, the horizontal and verticalmotions of the mobile communication facility 102 described herein mayresult in incremental change in menu selection. The rate and duration ofa movement may determine the extent of change in the menu selection oruser interface screen. As an example, a rapid forward horizontalmovement may cause the menu selection to rapidly scroll through a listof selections. A slow but long duration left horizontal motion may causethe display of a long menu entry to scroll across the mobilecommunication facility display 172.

A user may physically move the mobile communication facility 102 in anirregular motion such as a non-linear movement, a random movement, or ashaking movement. Detection of one or more of these irregular motionsmay result in a substantial movement of selection in the menu structureof the mobile search application. As an example, a shaking movement mayresult in the search application canceling the current search activityand beginning a new search by presenting a top level menu selectiondisplay on the mobile communication facility 102. Alternatively, anirregular motion of the mobile communication facility 102 may bedisregarded by the client application interface, resulting in no changeto the menu selection or user interface screen. Other substantial menuselection movement associated with irregular motion of the mobilecommunication facility 102 may include clearing a text entry field,rearranging text in a text entry field of the mobile search application,randomly selecting one of the suggestions presented by the clientapplication interface, and shuffling the order of available menuselections (such as shuffling the order of a music play list).

One or more of the horizontal, vertical, and irregular directionalmovements may be coupled with acceleration or deceleration of themovement. Accelerating or decelerating directional movement may speed up(acceleration) or slow down (deceleration) the change in menu selectionor user interface screen associated with the movement. As an example, auser may initially move the mobile communication facility 102 slowly ina downward vertical direction resulting in a slow zooming in on theimage or screen displayed. As the user accelerates the downward verticalmotion, the rate of zooming in may increase.

Mobile search application display navigation linked to movement of themobile communication facility 102 may include navigation of one or moreof the following: search results, a menu, a list of email messages, aproduct list, a calendar, a contacts list, a document list, a folderlist, an application list, a map, and the like.

The algorithm facility 144 may receive a user's input in the form of aproblem and evaluate that problem by applying the set of all potentialsolutions available within the search space. At its most basic, thealgorithm facility 144 may apply naive/uninformed search algorithmsconsisting of the most intuitive solution(s) available within the searchspace. Alternatively, the algorithm facility 144 may also employinformed search algorithms based on heuristics that utilize intelligenceabout the elements of the search space in order to minimize search timeand resource allocation of the algorithm facility 144. The algorithm mayserve to promote or demote content for display 172 to the user basedupon the frequency of queries, the frequency of clicks or clickthroughs,the velocity of queries; the site of the search launch, storefrontvisit, or mobile website; community tagging; mobile user scoring; or itmay be based upon domain restrictions (e.g., only “espn.com”).

An algorithm may be designed to create an index for information specificto the mobile communication facility 102. For example, the algorithm maylook only for mobile tags (e.g., WML, xHTML—MP, MIME types, such astext, WAP, and/or WML, or mobile specific headers). An algorithm mayalso determine the aesthetic compatibility between the content and thecapabilities of the display 172 of the mobile communication facility102, including factors such as page width, page weight (e.g., the numberof images and byte size), screen resolution and color capabilities, fonttypes and sizes, client-side rendering capabilities, page complexity(e.g., features incompatible or specific to a mobile communicationfacility 102), and the like. This compatibility information may also beblended with other information, such as popularity data (e.g., WAPgateway, editorial scoring, and/or traffic market data).

The algorithm facility 144 may contain a collaborative filteringprotocol, category filtering, a recommendation system and/or otherprocess facilities for analyzing, refining, or filtering user inputand/or search results. A collaborative filter may employ a two stepprocess. During the first step, other users are identified who havesimilar rating patterns as those of the active user. Secondly, theratings obtained from these similar users provide the empiric basis forpredicting information of relevance to the active user. Thecollaborative filter can be both an inclusive and an exclusive process,gathering relevant information for the active user or removingincongruent information from the predictive information set.

A collaborative filtering protocol generally involves the collection ofpreference data from a large group of users. This preference data may beanalyzed statistically to identify subgroups, or characteristics ofsubgroup members, with similar preference profiles. Various weightedaverage, fuzzy logic, or other techniques may be used to summarize ormodel a preference subgroup, and a preference function may be createdusing the model/summary. This function may then be used to match newusers to an appropriate preference subgroup. In embodiments, suchinformation may be collected from many individual mobile subscribercharacteristic data sets, and data may be collected from many mobilecommunication facility users. For example, a wireless provider 108 maycollect preference data from a large group of its customers. Inembodiments, the data may be collected from non-mobile users and mayrelate to preference information collected from other on-line oroff-line activities.

User preferences may be derived from user behavior or other implicitcharacteristics, or explicitly defined by a mobile communicationfacility user, or some combination of these. If users were to explicitlystate their preferences (e.g. for types of restaurants, books,e-commerce, music, news, video, formats, audio, etc.), the explicitpreference information may be stored in the mobile subscribercharacteristic data bases associated with their phones. Users mayimplicitly register a preference through activity such as purchasing aproduct online, visiting a site on line, making a phone call from amobile communication facility, making a phone call from anotherfacility, viewing content, or engaging or not engaging in otheractivities. For example, if the user looks at a product and decides notto purchase the product, one can draw an inference that the user is notinterested in the product, and this inference may be used as part of acollaborative filtering algorithm. In addition, inferences may be drawnfrom the types of establishments the user has been calling recently onthe mobile communication facility. If he or she has been calling autodealerships repeatedly over the past two weeks, an inference can bedrawn that the user is presently looking for auto goods and/or services.Implicit preferences of users may also be collected by recording allpages that are visited by users and the frequency and/or duration ofeach visit. Using a binary coding scheme in which visited pages arecoded “1” and unvisited pages “0,” one may create user-based preferencevectors and analyze statistically for both intra-user and inter-usercluster preferences or similarities. Other coding techniques may groupcertain sites along dimensions of commonality, with navigation behavioranalyzed using any number of Euclidean or other distance and/or matchingtechniques. In embodiments, user preference data may be collected fromwithin the mobile subscriber characteristics database. In embodiments,user preference data may be collected from outside of the mobilesubscriber characteristics database. In embodiments, off-line behaviormay also be used to characterize the preferences of the user.

An implicit mobile search query may be automatically generated from amobile communication facility 102 based at least on one parameter inorder to deliver relevant mobile content to a mobile communicationfacility 102, wherein the relevance may be based in part on informationrelating to a mobile communication facility 102.

The automatic generation of the search query may be an implicit search.This implicit search may not require user manipulation of a mobilecommunication facility command. For example, a user may not need toselect a menu item, depress a button, select a touch screen icon, issuea voice command, or explicitly employ other commands associated with amobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, the automatic generation of a search query may also beaccomplished by a server 134 or other related facility. In embodiments,a parameter may be used to determine, in part, the relevancy of a mobilecontent. A parameter may be information relating to a mobilecommunication facility 102. This information may relate to a usercharacteristic. User characteristics may include a user's age, sex,race, religion, area code, zip code, home address, work address, billingaddress, credit information, family information, income information,birth date, birthplace, employer, job title, length of employment, andother information associated with user characteristics. For example, theuser characteristic, employer, may be used to determine, in part, therelevancy of news headlines within a search result derived from anautomatically generated search query of news headlines. If the user'semployer was an automotive manufacturer, news headlines relating toautoworker layoffs may be determined to be more relevant than headlinesrelating to currency fluctuations in China, and, thus, prioritized fordelivery to the user's mobile communication facility 102. Similarly, theparameter of the user's employer might also result in the generation ofa search query relating to the employer's current stock price, andresult in delivery of that information to the user's mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, a parameter may also relate to a user history, a usertransaction, a geographic location, geographic proximity, a user device,a time, and or other user characteristics. For example, parametersrelating to a user may include age (e.g. 27), sex (e.g. male), previoususer transactions (e.g. purchase of a jazz recording), and geographiclocation (e.g. New York City). The automatically generated search mayreturn search results that are ranked, ordering, indexed, and orprioritized by their relevance to a user characteristic or plurality ofuser characteristics. In this example, the fact that the user is ayoung, male, located in New York City with a history of purchasing jazzrecordings, may result in the prioritization of relevant content fordelivery to the user's mobile communication facility 102, such as,retail establishments selling jazz recordings, retail establishmentsselling jazz recordings within New York City, retail establishmentsselling jazz recordings within walking distance of the user, and soforth.

In embodiments, a parameter may also include a mobile communicationfacility characteristic, such as display capability, display size,display resolution, processing speed, audio capability, videocapability, cache size, storage capability, memory capacity, or othermobile communication facility characteristic. The information relatingto a mobile communication facility 102 may be provided by a wirelessoperator, a wireless service provider 108, a telecommunications serviceprovider, or other providers associated with a mobile communicationfacility 102. In embodiments, the information may be stored on andprovided from the mobile communication facility. To further the previousexample of the user who is a jazz aficionado, if a new video isavailable of a jazz artist in concert, the automatically generated querymay determine whether the user's mobile communication facility 102 hasappropriate video capability, and if so offer the user the opportunityto download the video.

In embodiments, relevant mobile content may be locally cached on amobile communication facility 102. The locally cached information may beloaded prior to new content associated with a new search query. Thelocally cached information may be associated with an expiration, whichmay be a date, a time, a previous usage of the locally cachedinformation, or other characteristics governing expiration of thelocally cached information. For example, using the parameters ofgeographic location and time, the automatically generated search querymay return results containing the current day's weather conditions forthat location. These results might be locally cached on a mobilecommunication facility 102 with an expiration of 11:59 pm on that sameday. In embodiments, the prior viewing of a cached content, such as avideo, may be used to determine a permitted future use of the content.For example, a cached concert video from a jazz artist may be allowed toplay five times on a mobile communication facility 102 after which timeit expires and requires the user to purchase the video in order to viewit again.

In embodiments, an implicit search may be initiated based on locationand/or time and the implicit search may be designed to provide locallystored information that may be later used and is relevant to thelocation and/or time. For example, a person may fly to a new location(e.g. Kansas City) and upon recognition that the phone is in a newlocation, a search may be launched. The search may be adapted to requestdirectories such as yellow pages, white pages, maps, classifiedadvertisements, hotel information, rental car information, publictransportation information, services locations, good provider locations,restaurants, or other directory information. In embodiments, theinformation may be specifically tailored to the mobile communicationfacility or its user (e.g. a specific section of the yellow pages) byusing information relating to the mobile communication facility (e.g. asdescribed herein). In embodiments, the information may be more generalin nature (e.g. a general section of the yellow pages for the location).Another example of a useful implicit search is related to a persondriving through various areas. As the person drives from one area to thenext (e.g. as determined by a comparison of the mobile communicationfacility's location as compared with a map or zip codes) new information(e.g. directories) may be downloaded to the user's phone. A check of theinformation previously stored on the mobile communication facility maybe done to see if the information previously stored needs to be updatedor replaced. In embodiments, the previously stored information may be upto date and a new download of information may not be required.

In embodiments, relevance may be based at least in part on a statisticalassociation. The relevance may be a score. The statistical associationmay relate to an association between the mobile content and theinformation relating to a mobile communication facility 102. Theinformation relating to a mobile communication facility 102 may includea user history, a user transaction, a geographic location, geographicproximity, a user device, a time, a user characteristic, or a mobilecommunication facility characteristic. A user characteristic may beselected from the group consisting of age, sex, race, religion, areacode, zip code, home address, work address, billing address, creditinformation, family information, income information, birth date,birthplace, employer, job title, length of employment, and other usercharacteristics. A mobile communication facility characteristic may beselected from the group consisting of display capability, display size,display resolution, processing speed, audio capability, videocapability, cache size, storage capability, memory capacity, and othermobile communication facility characteristics. For example, a mobilecommunication facility 102 may be associated with the parameters of ageographic location (San Francisco), a user history (previous calls toChinese restaurants), and a time (7 pm). The mobile communicationfacility 102 may automatically generate a search query and prioritizethe presentation of content based on the relevancy of the content to arestaurant, or a Chinese restaurant, or having the location of SanFrancisco, or being open for business at 7 pm, or some combination ofthese.

In embodiments, the information relating to a mobile communicationfacility 102 may be provided by a wireless operator, a wireless serviceprovider 108, a telecommunications service provider, or other providersassociated with a mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a basic implementation of a collaborative filteringalgorithm entails tracking the popularity of a product, service,business, transaction, or website by recording the total number of usersin the set that rate it favorably (which may include a degree offavorability) or by recording the number of users that repeatedly visitthe site. In essence, this algorithm assumes that what previous usersliked, new users will like. In embodiments, a weighted averaging processis implemented to carve out subgroups of users who all highly ranked aproduct that has an overall unpopular rating with the overall userdataset.

A more robust collaborate filtering procedure, sometimes referred to asthe K-nearest neighbor algorithm, uses a “training data set” that isbased upon previous users' behavior to predict a variable of interest tomembers of a “target data set” comprised of new users. In addition touser preference data, the training data set may have additionalpredictor variables, such as might be contained in a mobile subscribercharacteristics database (e.g., age, income, sex, date or place ofbirth, etc.). Variables of interest may include type of productpurchased, amount of purchase, and so forth. For each row (single userdata) in the target data set, the algorithm locates the “K” closestmembers of the training data set. Closeness, or distance, as used by thealgorithm is generally a Euclidean Distance measure. Next, the algorithmfinds the weighted sum of the variable of interest for the K nearestneighbors, where the weights are the inverse of the calculateddistances. This process is then repeated for all remaining rows in thetarget set. From this information, models may be derived for futureprediction. As the user population increases, the training data set maybe updated to include new rows and thus capture any changes in userpreference for use in revising the prediction model.

Other methods that may also be used successfully for statisticalclustering of user preference groups include the weighted majority,Bayesian prediction, Pearson product correlation, and factor analysis.

In addition to the description of collaborative filtering summarizedabove, the following text may be referenced for more informationrelating to collaborative filtering and is incorporated herein byreference: Nakamura, A. and Abe, N., 1998. Collaborative Filtering usingWeighted Majority Prediction Algorithms in: Proceedings of ICML '98,395-403. Morgan Kaufman Eds. (see Appendix A).

In addition to, or instead of collaborative filtering, or otherpreferential treatment of various information as determined by othermethods, non-preferential or objective type data may be employed tofurther target search results about the user of a mobile communicationfacility 102. For example, a location of the user may be determinedthrough a GPS system (or other location based service), and thislocation may be used to filter results with or without the use of acollaborative filter. In embodiments, elements such as time of day, typeof device, activities associated with time of day, activities associatedwith location, invoice activity, and the like may be used to furtherrefine a search. In an embodiment, such information may be used in acategory style filter (i.e. a filter designed to include or excluderesults based on the data). In embodiments, such information may be usedby a collaborative filter algorithm. In embodiments, such informationmay be used to filter results without being considered in thecollaborative filter algorithm.

In embodiments, data used in the process of obtaining search results,refining search queries, making corrections, making suggestions,disambiguating search queries, categorizing results, performing explicitor implicit searches, filtering, collaboratively filtering, orperforming other processes defined herein may be stored in a database(e.g. a relational database). In embodiments, the data may be mined,associating, linked, extracted, or otherwise manipulated or used. Formore information relating to the association and mining of such data,refer to the following document, incorporated herein by reference:Integrating Association Rule Mining with Relational Database Systems:Alternatives and Implications, by Sunita Sarawagi, Shiby Thomas, RakeshAgrawal, published by the IBM Almaden Research Center (see Appendix B).

A recommendation system may use information from a user's profile tomake predictions regarding other information/products that mightinterest the user. Data used in the recommendation system may beobtained through the use of explicit and implicit data collection.Explicit collection refers to data collected from users who, forexample, are directly rating items, ranking products, statingpreferences, listing favorites or least favorites, etc. Implicitcollection refers to data collected as, for example, a byproduct of userbehavior, such as products viewed in an online store or productspurchased. The recommendation system may compare the collected data tosimilar data collected from others and calculates a list of recommendeditems for the active user.

Suggestions may be generated for display 172 based upon each keystrokethe user enters into the mobile communication facility 102. Suggestionsmay be cached locally on the mobile communication facility 102 andblended with the performance of server updates in order to optimize theoverall performance of the wireless platform 100. Updates may also beprovided to the cache memory of the mobile communication facility 102without requiring a user keystroke. Additional suggestions may besupplied to users by ranking content based upon popularity, thefrequency of query activity, frequency within content, the accelerationof the frequency of content, the frequency of purchases, the salesconversion rate, as well as any changes that occur to any of thesemetrics. Suggestion lists can also be derived by “de-duping” withfrequent terms, such as “Tyra Banks out of 1, 2, 3,” and categorizing,for instance, by title, artist, or a yellow pages-type taxonomy or othersubject matter organization. The suggestions may be specific to a mobilecommunication facility 102, mobile subscriber characteristic 112, resultfacilities, carrier business rules 130, and/or search algorithmfacilities 144. Suggestions may be dynamically displayed in a Java orBREW application. Suggestions may also be presented in a browser. Forexample, if a user types BR SP as their query, the responding WAP pagemay ask the user if they intended on entering Britney Spears or BruceSpringsteen. Then the user may click on the link of the intended query.

Recommendations may be specific to a mobile communication facility 102,mobile subscriber characteristic 112, result facilities, carrierbusiness rules 130, and/or sponsor 162. Providing a recommendation tothe user about other relevant content may be done either during searchresult display 172 or after a search item has been selected. Therelationships between items may be based on transactions, searches, andquery behaviors and may include cross-selling products (e.g., recordingartists within the same genre) or offering users additional products andservices (e.g., offering a taxi service following a user's purchase ofmovie tickets in an urban setting). Query classification may use ayellow pages-type taxonomy (e.g., restaurants or physicians, or forinferring that a five digit number is a postal zip code) and may bespecific to a mobile communication facility 102, mobile subscribercharacteristic 112, delivery facility, disambiguation facility 140,and/or parental controls 150. The wireless platform 100 may also usekeyword mapping to a query classification based upon taxonomy. Forexample, a user query of “screwdriver” may map onto the category“hardware.” This keyword mapping may be specific to a mobilecommunication facility 102, mobile subscriber characteristic 112,delivery facility, disambiguation facility, and/or parental controls.

The results facility 148 may include general content and services,specific content catalogs, carrier premium content, carrier portalcontent, device based results, or home computer desktop search results.The general content and services provided in the results facility 148could be podcasts, websites, general images available online, generalvideos available online, websites transcoded for MCF, or websitesdesigned for mobile browser facilities. Specific content catalogs mayinclude travel, driving directions, results displayed on a map, whiteand yellow page telephone directories, movie show times and reviews,comparison shopping and product reviews, weather, stock quotes, generalknowledge questions, word definitions, a thesaurus, restaurant reviewsand reservations, WiFi hotspot locations, horoscopes, area codes, zipcodes, sports scores, flight times, fantasy sports statistics, drinkrecipes, pick-up lines, jokes, information within a physical store(e.g., inventory), a mobile wallet, an encyclopedia, adult content,gambling content, and FAQ's. The carrier premium content provided in theresults facility 148 may include ringtones (monophonic, polyphonic, orreal tones), ringback, music streaming, MP3, video, games, screensavers,images designed for cell phones, mobile books, or other mobileapplications. Carrier portal content includes news, such as the currenttop stories, entertainment, business, technology, and finance, andsports, weather, stock quotes, and account information. Device basedresults provided in the results facility 148 may include messaging, suchas SMS MMS and instant messaging, email, chat, PIM (address book), andmonetary services for a mobile wallet. Finally, home computer desktopsearch results may include text documents, Portable Document Format(“PDF”) documents, maps in various formats including annotated maps, ora similar facility, spreadsheets, presentations, photos and images, webpages, email, IM, and chat.

Ordering and displaying search results may be based upon a mobilecommunication facility 102, mobile subscriber characteristic 112,delivery facility, disambiguation facility, parental controls 150,search algorithm facilities 144, carrier business rules 158, and/or asponsorship facility 162. The ordering of content for display may alsobe based upon the amount of content available within a category. Thedisplay 172 may be changed based upon the screen size of the mobilecommunication facility 102, and sounds or other multimedia content mayadapt to capabilities of the mobile communication facility 102. Orderingand display of content may be organized by the type of content, theartist, the date, or concept (e.g., Jaguar as a car, or jaguar as ananimal), and other categories may derive from deduction within themobile search host facilities 114. In addition to ordering, content maybe emphasized or deemphasized by weighting within the display 172. Forexample, weighting may occur through the use of size, motion, lack ofsymmetry, use of garish colors, sounds, multimedia, or other means ofaccenting content. For sponsored links, there may be opportunities foryield optimization (e.g., clicks multiplied by the bid cost).

The parental controls 150 function may be set up by the wirelessprovider 108 at the time that the user account is created. A web-basedinterface may be used for changing or modifying the parent controls andfor entering/changing the password protection. Alternatively, theparental controls may also be managed via an interface contained withinthe mobile communication facility 102.

The privacy facility 152 may include one or more facilities forprotecting user privacy, such as an encryption facility for encryptingsensitive user data. The privacy facility 152 may also include afacility for protecting the user from undesired content, such asunwanted commercial email, spam, spyware, viruses, or the like. Aprivacy facility may, for example, filter such content prior torevealing results or may, in other embodiments, suggest modified queriesthat are less likely to reveal a user's confidential information or thatare less likely to return undesired content. A privacy facility 152 mayalso function in a manner similar to a secure channel, such as via VPN,with a wireless provider 108. This secure channel may permit sensitiveinformation to be shared securely.

The transactional security facility 154 may contain additional privacyand parental control settings, transactional security settings for theprotection of wireless shopping, and the management of digital rights.In embodiments such a facility may include password-based security, apublic-key/private-key facility, or other suitable security protocol forensuring the authenticity of the participants in a transaction that isexecuted using the mobile communications facility 102.

The carrier business rules 158 of the wireless provider 108 may beassociated with, or included in, the mobile search host facilities 114.These rules may govern what content users may access (e.g., walledgarden vs. non-walled garden), where within the user interface sponsorlogos and links are placed, which sponsor facilities are included, rulesfor the inventory of advertisements, rules allowing categories oftransactions by users (e.g., based on access conditions, employercontrols, parental controls, or the like) and managing auctions. In theinstance of duplicate information occurring in a search result, thepreferred provider's content may be given priority over others.

In addition to voice recognition 160 residing on the mobilecommunication facility 102, it may be contained within the mobile searchhost facilities 114 and use both software algorithms and hardware-basedsolutions for accurate voice recognition.

The sponsorship facility 162 stores premium content from sponsors thatpay the wireless provider 108 to display this content to relevant users.Sponsors' information may link to a web site visited by the user (i.e.,pay-per-click), or link to a call (i.e., pay-per-call). Sponsorinformation may include information that is text only, graphicinformation in the form of photographs, graphic art designs, or video,as well as various combinations of these. Sponsor information may alsotake the form of an interactive software application (i.e., a game), orspecial ringtones (e.g., jamtones). Sponsor information may be displayedto users based on the relation of the sponsor information and usersearch queries, results lists, items or categories, and the websitesvisited by the user. Web pages may display content for syndicated ads orlinks for syndicated ads. Furthermore, the wireless search platform 100illustrated in FIG. 1 may contain the sorts of sponsor informationdescribed above in a separate database 128.

The implicit query facility 164 provides for the display of relevantcontent to users based on user activities other than explicit searchqueries. For example, in GPS data the locator facility 110 may indicatethat the cell phone user is in the vicinity of a sponsor's restaurant.In addition, the clock contained in the mobile communication facility102 and/or the wireless communication facility may indicate that it ismid-evening. A predictive algorithm could merge this information andmake the implicit query that the user is interested in restaurants inhis immediate vicinity at which he could purchase dinner, and then pushcontent (ads, phone numbers, menus, reviews) to his mobile communicationfacility 102 for immediate display. Other implicit queries couldsimilarly be based upon a user's parental controls 150, the carrierbusiness rules 158, results facility 148, and so forth, either alone orin combination.

The wireless search platform 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may contain aserver 134 and database 138 connected to the Internet. Databases 138connected to the wireless platform 100 over the Internet may storeinformation, such as individual business websites with which the usertransacts.

The wireless search platform 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may contain adatabase storing wireless carrier business rules 130. The carrierbusiness rules 130 may prioritize advertising content (see walled gardencontent 132 below) based on the financial interests of the wirelessprovider 108 or the importance of the sponsor 128. Additional carrierbusiness rules 130 may include those described herein and in thedocuments incorporated by reference herein.

The wireless search platform 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 may contain adatabase storing “walled garden” content 132. Walled garden content 132may be content from which the wireless provider 108 derives additionalrevenues based, for example, on user clickthroughs or content downloads(e.g. ringtones, wall paper, ringbacks, music, videos). Because of thisadditional revenue, the wireless provider 108, through its carrierbusiness rules 130, may ensure that this advantageous content is givenpriority over search results that are equally relevant but do not havefinancial benefits for the wireless provider 108.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram 200 showing a plurality of processes forhandling a user query and producing a delivered result to the user. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the query mode 202 is entered. The querymode may be in the form of an explicit query entered by an active user,or it may be an implicit query initiated not by the user but by somecharacteristic related to the user and/or his behaviors (e.g., his GPSlocation). The start of the query entry 208 made explicitly by the usermay be paired with additional information derived from a relatedimplicit query 204. Depending on the clarity of the query entry 208, thequery may need correction 244, disambiguation 240, or redirection 250.The query entry 208 may also be paired with recommendations 248,suggestions 242, or categorized 254 prior to further processing. If thestart of the query entry 208 is made by voice, rather than text, it maybe aligned with a voice recognition 252 program. Any or all of theprocesses used to optimize the search may be refined with informationrelating to the mobile communication facility, such as, for example,mobile subscriber characteristic information, location, time, filteralgorithms, and the like.

Once the initial explicit and/or implicit query is made, the query 212is processed and the initial results retrieved 214. Both the query 212and the initial retrieved results 214 may undergo additional filtering258 and aggregation 260. Walled garden content 262 and sponsored content220 may also attach to the query 212 and present tailored results 222 tothe user. The results 222 may also, in turn, trigger the posting ofadditional sponsor 224 messages and advertisements. Information frompay-per-click (PPC) sponsors 228 may link to the results, making itpossible for the user to quickly learn about sponsors' services, phonenumbers, addresses, hours of operation, sales, and so forth. If thestart of the query entry 208, for example, undergoes redirection 250, itmay either be routed back to the query stage 212 or immediately presentthe user with the results 222 based upon the query. Once results areretrieved, but prior to display 172, the content may be tested forcompatibility with the user's mobile communication facility 102 by usinga spider to run mock compatibility trials during which it emulates theprocessing characteristics of a broad array of commercially availablewireless communication facilities, including the user's mobilecommunication facility 102 type, in order to determine the contentwithin the result set that is compatible with the user's mobilecommunication facility 102.

The query results 222 may be ordered 230 prior to display 232 based, forexample, upon the sponsor 224, mobile subscriber characteristics,information relating to the mobile communication facility, location,carrier rules, filter results, and/or walled garden 262 priorities. Oncethe results 222 are displayed 232, the user may initiateinteractions/transactions 234 with the information (e.g., placing acall, click on a link, or an online order) that is then delivered 238wirelessly through the wireless platform 100 described in FIG. 1.

Referring back to FIG. 1, a wireless communication facility 104 may bean equipment enclosure, antenna, antenna support structure, and anyassociated facility used for the reception or transmittal of a radiofrequency, microwave, or other signal for communications. An antenna mayinclude a system of poles, panels, rods, reflecting discs or similardevices used for the transmission or reception of radio frequencysignals. An antenna may be an omni-directional antenna (such as a “whip”antenna) that transmits and receives radio frequency signals in a360-degree radial pattern, a directional antenna (such as a “panel”antenna) that transmits and receives radio frequency signals in aspecific directional pattern of less than 360 degrees, or a parabolicantenna (such as a “dish” antenna), a bowl-shaped device for thereception and/or transmission of radio frequency communication signalsin a specific directional pattern. Other antennae that may be includedin a wireless communication facility are accessory antenna devices, suchas test mobile antennas and global positioning antennas which are lessthan 12 inches in height or width, excluding the support structure.

One or more wireless providers 108 may mount equipment on a singlewireless communication facility 104.

Other examples of devices that may comprise a wireless communicationfacility include a lattice tower, a wireless communication supportstructure which consists of metal crossed strips or bars to supportantennas and related equipment, a monopole which is a wirelesscommunication facility 104 consisting of a support structure, andrelated equipment, including all equipment ancillary to the transmissionand reception of voice and data. Such equipment may include, but is notlimited to, cable, conduit and connectors, stanchions, monopoles,lattice towers, wood poles, or guyed towers.

A wireless provider 108 may include any for-profit, non-profit, orgovernmental entity offering wireless communication services. A wirelessprovider 108 may include services utilizing a broad array of wirelesstechnologies and/or spectra, including, but not limited to, Cellular,Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) Spectrum, Broadband PCS, NarrowbandPCS, Paging, Wireless Communications (WCS), Wireless Medical Telemetry(WMTS), Specialized Mobile, Private Land Mobile, Maritime Mobile, LowPower Radio Service (LPRS), Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC),218-219 MHz, 220 MHz, 700 MHz Guard Bands, Air-Ground, Amateur,Aviation, Basic Exchange Telephone, Broadband Radio Service (BRS),Citizens Band (CB), Commercial Operators License Program, EducationalBroadband Service (EBS), Family Radio Service (FRS), General MobileRadio, Industrial/Business Radio Pool, Intelligent TransportationSystems (ITS), Instructional Television Fixed (ITFS) See EducationalBroadband Service, Lower 700 MHz, Medical Implant Communications (MICS),Microwave, Millimeter Wave 70-80-90 GHz, Multipoint Distribution(MDS/MMDS), Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS), Offshore, Personal LocatorBeacons (PLB), Personal Radio, Public Safety, Radio Control RadioService (R/C), and Rural services.

A locator facility may work with the mobile communication facility 102in identifying the current geographic or other location of the mobilecommunication facility. A locator facility 110 may, for example, be usedto locate the geographic location of a wireless device through the useof geographically-tagged personally identifiable data or personallyidentifiable data. Geographically-tagged personally identifiable datadescribes personally identifiable data that is linked to a particularlocation through use of location-based services. Personally identifiabledata is information that can be used to identify a person uniquely andreliably, including but not limited to name, address, telephone number,e-mail address and account, or other personal identification number, aswell as any accompanying data linked to the identity of that person(e.g., the account data stored by the wireless provider 108). Inaddition to or as an alternative to geographic location, a locatorfacility 110 may identify other locations, such as proximity to otherusers, proximity to a network location, or position relative to otherusers (e.g., in a line).

As described above, mobile subscriber information may be stored in anaccessible form in a mobile subscriber characteristics database 112. Theinformation may be accessible directly from a mobile communicationfacility 102, from the wireless provider 108, or from another user andor handler of the information. In addition, the mobile subscriberdatabase 112 may be loaded with information relating to a mobilecommunication facility 102, a user of the mobile communication facility(e.g. a customer of the wireless service provider 108), and a wirelessservice provider 108 or other source of useful information. The mobilesubscriber information may be used in conjunction with a search forinformation on a mobile communication facility 102. For example, themobile subscriber information may be used to help better assess thedesired search targets of a user using a mobile communication facility.In embodiments, the user may perform a search based on key words (ordisambiguated, corrected, suggested or other terms as described herein),and some or all of the mobile subscriber characteristic information maybe used in addition to the key words as a way of refining or customizingthe search to the particular user. For example, the user's age,location, time of day, past mobile communication facility transactions(e.g. phone calls, clicks or click-throughs) may be used to predict whatthe user is more interested in. In embodiments, the information that ispredicted as valuable may be listed at the top of the search results;they may be the only results produced or they may be highlighted in someway. The mobile subscriber characteristic information may be used inconnection with an algorithm facility 144 for example. The mobilesubscriber characteristic information may be used in connection with acategory filter or other filter used to refine search results accordingto such information.

By way of another example, the mobile subscriber information stored inthe mobile subscriber characteristics database 112 may be used in animplicit search as described in further detail herein. The wirelessprovider may gain information pertaining to the user's location, time ofday, likes and dislikes (e.g. through interpretation of othertransactions [e.g., phone activity or web activity] related to themobile communication facility 102), and the wireless provider mayfacilitate the downloading of apparently relevant information to themobile communication facility in anticipation of the user's desire forsuch information. For example, a location facility 110 may locate themobile communication facility. The location may be associated with thetime of day at which the location was obtained. The location informationmay be associated with the other mobile subscriber characteristicinformation through a phone number associated with the mobilecommunication facility. The location may be Harvard Square in Cambridge,Mass. The time may be 6:30 p.m. and the user may have called Chineserestaurants ten times over the past two months at about this same time.This may be determined based on previous queries or by history of phonecalls that may then be reverse-searched to check for relevance to futurequeries.

With this information, the system may make an inference that the user isinterested in dinner at a Chinese restaurant and download informationpertaining to such in the area of Harvard Square. In addition,information pertaining to dinner categories or other results may bepresented. In embodiments, this collection of user relevant informationmay be used in connection with sponsor information stored in the sponsordatabase 128, and some or all of the results presented to the user maybe sponsored information. The sponsor information may be the result of asearch result auction based on the user relevant information, or thesponsor information may be related to local restaurants wherein thesponsored link is a pay per call sponsored link, for example.

There are many ways in which the mobile subscriber characteristicinformation can be used in a mobile communication facility search forinformation, whether it is an explicit, implicit, or other form ofsearch, and several such embodiments are presented in more detail below.

As described above, the sponsor database 128 may store sponsorinformation in an accessible form in the sponsor database 128 to be usedin the searching for information, presentation of information, accessingof information, or other activity associated with the mobilecommunication facility 102. In embodiments, the sponsor information maybe used to present syndicated sponsor links, advertising, content, orother information on the mobile communication facility 102.

A sponsored result may be presented to the user of a mobilecommunication facility 102 as a result of an auction for advertisingspace on the mobile communication facility 102. The auction may bekeyword based, term based, phrase based, algorithm based, or some othersystem of associating information, a site, content, and the like with asearch query or inquiry. For example, the user of a mobile communicationfacility 102 may conduct a network search by entering a search query,and the query, or some related form of the query (e.g., a disambiguationof the query, correction of the query, suggestion related to the query),may be processed through an auction in which the highest bidder for theauction receives an elevated right to advertise its content. The contentmay be presented as a sponsored link on a display associated with themobile communication facility. The sponsored link may be highlighted,prioritized, or otherwise presented. In embodiments, the sponsoredinformation may be presented on a site visited by the mobilecommunication facility user. For example, the user may click on a linkother than the sponsored link. Once the website content is displayed onthe mobile communication facility, information relating to the sponsoredlink may also be displayed, offering another chance for the user toclick on the sponsored link.

In embodiments, a user of the mobile communication facility 102 mayperform a search for information, or a search for relevant informationmay be performed in anticipation of the user desiring such information(e.g., an implicit search) and included in the results presented may bea sponsored link, content, or other information. The sponsored contentmay be the result of an auction (e.g., a keyword based auction,algorithm based auction, location based auction, mobile subscribercharacteristics based auction, or combination auction whereininformation, such as from the search query, is combined with otherinformation, such as location or mobile subscriber characteristics), andit may be presented and displayed on a display associated with themobile communication facility in a prioritized manner, highlightedmanner, exclusive manner, or presented in some other manner.

In embodiments, sponsor information may be presented to a mobilecommunication facility 102 as the result of an auction. In embodimentssponsor information may be presented as a pay-per-call link or content.In a pay-per-call embodiment, there may not have been an auction for theright to post the information on the mobile communication facility 102.The information may have been presented because it appeared relevant orfor some other reason. In such situations, the user of the mobilecommunication facility may be presented with a special phone numberassociated with the sponsor. When the special number is called, thereceiver of the call (e.g., a vendor of goods or services) is presentedwith an option to receive the call and pay a commission to the poster ofthe information (e.g., the wireless service provider) or decline thecall. In another somewhat similar scenario, the vendor may be allowed toaccept the first call for free, or pay for/billed for the call later,but have to accept such charges in the future if referrals are desired.The user of the mobile communication facility 102 may store thesponsored or referred phone number in an address book of the mobilecommunication facility 102, and every time the number is called, thewireless service provider may be paid for the referral. In embodiments,the referral/sponsor fee may go down with use, go up with use, or remainstable with use. In embodiments, the referral/sponsor fee may changewith time or other parameters. In embodiments, a pay per call number isthe result of an auction process. Advertising syndication may besegmented by mobile communication facility 102, mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, delivery facilities, and/or parental controls 150.

An aspect of the present invention relates to a syndication programwhere mobile content may be added to a website when the website ispresented to a mobile communication facility (e.g. a cell phone). Suchsyndication may be decided by the wireless operator, wireless serviceprovider, telecommunications provider or may be at the decision of thewebsite owner through an opt-in process. The opt-in process may involvesigning up with a wireless provider, mobile search provider, or otherrelated entity. The opt-in process may also involve the insertion of atag on the website. Mobile content may automatically be added to websitepages for a specified URL or plurality of URLs. The addition of mobilecontent may be done without an indication on the page of where mobilecontent should be placed. A tag or other coded information may beincluded in the website to indicate where on the site the mobile contentshould be placed when delivered to a mobile communication facility. Thesyndication process may be context based relevancy, behavioral basedrelevancy or it may be based on a combination of the two techniques toassociate relevant mobile content with the site. A server application(e.g. a WAP server application, WAP Gateway, Mobile Application Gateway,and the like) may automatically add mobile content to a website whendelivering it to a mobile communication facility whether or not thewebsite is tagged. The mobile content may involve a web contentplacement auction or other process for determining which content will beassociated with keywords, topics, websites, and the like during thepresentation.

Automatic syndication of mobile content to a website may be based atleast in part on using contextual information associated with thewebsite in order to determine the relevancy of mobile content that isavailable for syndication. Contextual information that may be associatedwith a website may include keywords, terms, or phases located on thewebsite, the inbound links to the website, the outbound links from thewebsite, click patterns and clickthroughs associated with the website(including click patterns and clickthroughs associated with sponsoredcontent appearing on the website), metadata, website usage patternsincluding time, duration, depth and frequency of website usage, thewebsite host, search verticals relating to the website, and otherindicia of website context.

The contextual information relating to a website may be associated withmobile content that is available for syndication and presentation to thewebsite based at least in part on relevance. Mobile content availablefor syndication may derive from a pool of mobile content sponsorsparticipating in a contextual syndication program provided by a wirelessoperator, wireless service provider, telecommunications provider, mobilesearch provider, and the like. Alternatively, mobile content availablefor syndication may derive from outside of a contextual syndicationprogram and be used for generating a mobile sponsor campaign forpresentation to a potential participant in a contextual syndicationprogram.

The relevancy of the contextual information associated with a websiteand the mobile context available for syndication may be indicatedthrough the use of a relevancy score. The relevancy score may be anumerical summary of the statistical association between contextualwebsite data parameters and mobile content parameters. The relevancyscore may be a proprietary score assigned to a mobile content by awireless operator, wireless service provider, mobile search provider, ortelecommunications service provider. The contextual data parametersassociated with websites may be standardized in a list. Mobile contentmay receive a relevancy score for each element in the contextual dataparameters list. For example, a mobile content, such as a ringtonedownload advertisement, may receive a relevancy score for each of aplurality of websites. “Entertainment” websites may receive a higherrelevancy score than the “Weather” websites. Similarly, the contextualinformation of an inbound link relating to “Music” may receive a higherrelevancy score than an inbound link relating to “Pets.” A mobilecontent relating to a ringtone derived from a popular Chinese-languagesong may receive a higher relevancy score for the contextual informationof “Server Host=China” than for “Server Host=Argentina.” Contextualinformation parameters “Keyword=Ringtone” or “Keyword=Music Download”could also be scored as highly relevant to syndicated mobile contentrelating to ringtones, and so forth. The relevancy scores of asyndicated mobile content may be stored in a mobile content relevancedictionary.

A program of automatically syndicating mobile content to a website maybe based upon the relevance of the mobile content to the contextualinformation associated with the website. The automation of syndicatingmobile content may be based at least in part on associating electronicinformation associated with a website (e.g. metadata). Contained withinthe metadata may be information regarding the relevance of the website'scontextual data parameters with mobile content data parameters. Examplesof only a few of the many examples of how a metadata may containrelevance information include: metadata indicating relevance to thewebsite (e.g., “Ringtones”), metadata indicating the minimum relevancyscore associated with a contextual data parameter that is required forsyndicating a mobile content to the website, and the like. The metadatamay communicate with the mobile content relevance dictionary in order toidentify, receive and present relevant mobile content to a website.

In embodiments, an entity associated with a website may be able to optinto an automated syndication program. The opt-in may be done inassociation with a wireless operator, wireless service provider, mobilesearch provider, or telecommunications provider. The opt-in may be donethrough a self-service website, through an entity conducting theautomated syndication program, through a ground mailed solicitation,phone call solicitation, through a website tag, and the like. Once anentity associated with a website has opted into the program, theautomated syndication program may associate an electronic tag within theentity's website in order to commence the automated syndication. Theautomated syndication program may operate in conjunction with a WAPserver, WAP Gateway, Mobile Application Gateway, remote server, a serverthat is serving pages to a mobile communication facility (e.g. phone),and the like. In embodiments, the opt-in process involves tagging thetarget website with a syndication indication tag. For example, a websiteoperator may tag the website (and each of its associated pages) with asyndication indication tag indicating that it is to be syndicated whenpresented to a mobile communication facility (e.g. phone). The tag mayalso indicate the position of the mobile content on the page. Opt-inwebsites may choose not to insert a tag and allow the mobile content toappear automatically on the page. A server application designed fordownloading the website to the mobile communication facility (e.g. a WAPserver, WAP gateway, Mobile Application Gateway, and the like) may readwebsites looking for the syndication indication tag or may associate thewebsite location with a database of URLs that have requested toparticipate (opt-in). Once the server confirms the site is to includesyndicated mobile content, the server may automatically add mobilecontent to the website. The process of tagging the site may involvegoing to a wireless provider site or mobile search provider site toobtain the proper tag. In embodiments, the tag may be provided by anynumber of different entities or sources. For example, the tag may beprovided by a third party tagging website. In embodiments, the format ofthe tag may be known and a site administrator may insert the tag.

The automated syndication program may be a flat fee, revenue sharing, orno-fee service program offered to an entity of a website. The automatedsyndication program may involve a split fee service program offered toan entity of a website in which the entity shares revenues with thewireless operator, wireless service provider, telecommunicationsprovider, mobile search provider conducting the automated syndicationprogram, server service provider and/or other entities involved in thetransaction. Fees may be derived from sponsors of mobile contentparticipating in the automated syndication program. The fees derivedfrom the sponsors of mobile content, competitive bidding process,auction, flat fee service, or the like. The fee structure and biddingmay be based on the relevancy score associated with a data parameter.

In embodiments, a website may be tagged for syndication and there may beno fee, a flat fee, a revenue sharing arrangement or other arrangementmade when a server application syndicates the webpage. The content usedto syndicate the website may have been provided through the an auctionor other such arrangement and the fees received for the syndicationapplication may be shared with a number of entities including the siteowner, the wireless provider delivering the site to the mobilecommunication facility, the server operator and/or other entitiesinvolved in the transaction.

Alternatively, mobile content syndicated to a website may include asearch box that may allow for searching the website alone or a set ofcontent broader than the website alone.

As described above for an automatic syndication program based uponcontextual information associated with a website, so too may anautomatic syndication program be based upon behavioral informationrelating to a user of a mobile communication facility. Within anautomated syndication program based upon behavioral information, therelevancy scores of mobile content may be based on a user's behavioraldata parameters including, but not limited to, at least one of a userhistory, transaction history, geographic location, user device, time,mobile subscriber characteristic, mobile communication facilitycharacteristic and/or other such user information as described herein. Amobile communication facility may be a phone, a mobile phone, a cellularphone, and a GSM phone.

While many of the embodiments herein have been described in connectionwith a syndicated website, it should be understood that the techniquesapply to other forms of network content as well. For example, thetechniques may be used for the syndication of a webpage, portion of awebpage, an image, video, movie, skin, graphical user interface, programinterface, web content, downloadable content and other such content.

A mobile content website may contain web pages including text, graphics,images, metadata and other such information. This information may begenerally unrelated to navigation or activation links on the web page,yet may provide valuable insight into the value and purpose of thewebsite. Alternatively the information may be related to navigationlinks which, when clicked by a user or search engine, may open adifferent web page within the mobile content website (an internal link).The information may be related to navigation links which, when clickedby a user or search engine may open a web page outside of the mobilecontent website (an external link). The information may also be relatedto action links such as links for ordering products, enrolling in emaillists, viewing videos, selecting one or more options, and the like.

The various information on a mobile content website may include terms(words, phrases, expressions, and the like) which are relevant in one ormore ways to the product, service, business, function, or purpose of themobile content website. If the information is presented in substantiallycomplete sentences, it may also include terms which, while important tothe readability of the information, are not relevant to the mobilecontent website. The information may also include terms that arerelevant to one or more action links (such as ordering, or a user nameinput window, and the like), yet may not provide substantially valuableinsight into the value or purpose of the mobile content website.

Another informational aspect associated with a mobile content website isthe inbound links to the website on other website pages. These in-boundlinks and their associated information may also include terms that arehighly relevant to the value and/or purpose of the mobile contentwebsite.

Yet another informational aspect associated with the mobile contentwebsite is a telephone listing. A phone number listing, in a white oryellow pages, or other directory such as an on-line directory, may alsoinclude terms (and contact information) relevant to the mobile contentwebsite.

Sponsors of mobile content websites may be desirous of promoting theirwebsites or associated mobile content to mobile communication users.Mobile communication users may be desirous of learning about the mobilecontent and/or the associated website, so they may use a mobile searchservice to help them identify websites and/or web content in which theymay be interested. In embodiments, a technique used by search services,particularly those associated with websites, may be to match keywordsinput by a user to relevant terms associated with websites. A sponsormay prefer to have a method or system to analyze their mobile contentwebsite to identify relevant terms, and perhaps rank the terms toidentify the most popular or useful terms. A sponsor may further use theanalysis system or method to improve website information such thatrelevant terms more closely match popular or useful keywords.

In embodiments, a method or system may be used to analyze a mobilecontent website to identify keywords that represent relevant terms usedon the mobile content website. As an example, an automated system mayprocess each page of the mobile content website counting terms in theinformation, resulting in counts of each term on the website. Furtherprocessing through one or more filters for filtering out common terms(such as prepositions) may result in a count of unique, relevant termsin the information. Further processing the words into groups such asthose terms related to action links, internal links, external links, andthe like may result in an analysis of relevant terms of a mobile contentwebsite. The result may be summarized as a report and may be presentedto the sponsor.

In embodiments, the mobile content website keyword/term analysis reportmay be incorporated into a marketing program which may includeadvertising and/or promotion of the mobile content website to mobilecommunication users. The marketing program may be provided by orassociated with a wireless provider 108 that may support a sponsorshipfacility 162 through which at least a portion of the marketing programmay be administered. The marketing program may further incorporateanalysis of any information associated with inbound links (and the linksthemselves) to the mobile content website, and any informationassociated with telephone listings, thereby providing a complete view ofthe information associated with the mobile content website.

The marketing program may also include evaluating a sponsor's website todetermine the frequency of the appearance of key words and/or keyphrases known to often be used in searches by mobile communicationusers. Once the keyword and/or key phrase frequency is known, a siterelevancy score may be derived indicating the relevance of keywords tothe content of a sponsor's website. This relevancy score may then beused to assist sponsors in managing the marketing program. A sponsor maymore easily focus their finances on keywords and/or key phrases with thegreatest relevancy to their content, while ensuring relevant terms oftheir mobile content website are also appropriately financed in themarketing program.

The marketing program may also include one or more recommendations orselections regarding bid amounts for one or more of the keywords, andterms. A key aspect of the marketing program may include advertisingwhich may include suggestions regarding advertising content, or targetURLs to be associated with the website. The suggested content may beinternal to the website, thereby incorporating advertisements withkeywords or key phrases that increase the relevance score of the mobilecontent website—likely directing more mobile communication users to thesponsor's website.

Selecting relevant terms may improve a mobile content sponsor's displayorder and amount of content displayed on a mobile communication devicedisplay 172 in response to a user's keyword search. Display order andamount of display on a mobile communication facility 102 may be based atleast in part on the relevancy of the sponsored content. For example,relevancy may be based upon a match of terms in sponsor's content withkeywords entered by a user in a query entry facility 120.

In addition to the terms derived from analyzing a mobile contentsponsor's website, the marketing plan may include additional keywordsautomatically provided by processing the terms through a thesaurus. Inaddition, the marketing plan may include sponsor entered keywords andthesaurus lookups of these keywords.

In embodiments, a mobile content website may be periodically analyzedfor changes in content for purposes of assessing the relevance ofkeywords previously generated. For example, a sponsor may update awebsite to such an extent that the website content that was previouslyassociated with keywords is no longer reliable (i.e., the updatedcontent and existing keywords no longer have high relevancy). When thisoccurs, the system may send an alert to the sponsor indicating that therelevance of the keywords is reduced and may recommend revising thekeywords being financed in the marketing program.

In embodiments, the carrier rules database includes information relatingto search techniques, search methodologies, locations for searchablecontent, walled garden rules, out of garden rules, out-of-networksearching rules, in-network searching rules, search result presentationrules, sponsor presentation rules, sponsor search rules, sponsor rules,content presentation rules, and other information and rules pertainingto the search, display, ordering, and/or presentation of information onthe mobile communication facility 102.

Carrier business rules may provide guidance on how, for example, asearch term is to be disambiguated or corrected, what search termsshould be suggested as a result of an entered or submitted query, howresults and in what order results should be presented, or how sponsorsshould be selected and or presented. The carrier business rules mayprovide guidance about when to search in-network databases (e.g., walledgarden content 132) and when to search out-of network databases (e.g.,database 138 through server 134). For example, a wireless provider 108may want to cause users of mobile communication facilities 102 to ordermusic, videos, ringtones, wallpaper, screensavers, and the like from anin-network database of walled garden content 132, while the wirelessprovider may want current news to come from an out-of-network source.The wireless provider may then set these rules and store them in acarrier business rules database 130. These rules can then be accessed bythe wireless provider (or optionally from the mobile communicationfacility 102 or other related facility) during the search, presentation,or ordering, or other parameter according to the present invention.

A walled garden database 132 may be associated with a wireless providerand a mobile communication facility 102 according to an aspect of thepresent invention. The walled garden 132 refers to subset of carrierbusiness rules 130 that determine the type of access to wireless contentthat a user is permitted. The walled garden may limit the scope ofpermitted content to a pre-defined content set that is determined by thewireless provider 108. For example, a wireless provider 108 may licensecontent from third parties and offer the provider's subscribers abundled package of the licensed content, while restricting access toother content. The wireless provider 108 may direct the content layout,authentication, royalty tracking and reporting, billing, quality ofservice, etc. through the provider's carrier business rules, or thisfunction may be outsourced to a third party. The walled garden 132permits a wireless provider 108 to offer its subscribers a suite ofcontent as part of the subscriber's wireless basic account, therebyeliminating the need for the subscriber to individually pay for discretelicensed products within the licensed content package. The walled garden132 restricts the choice of content that is available to subscribers.Typically, the wireless provider 108 is compensated for contentdistribution in a form of revenue split between itself and the licensedcontent providers.

Related to the walled garden 132 model of content distribution is thegated garden model. In the gated garden, the wireless provider 108 maycreate a virtual toll gate through which third parties may offer theirproprietary content to the wireless provider's subscribers. In exchange,the wireless provider 108 shares in the revenues derived from itssubscribers' accessing the third party content. Unlike the walled garden132, in the gated garden model the wireless provider 108 typically doesnot assume responsibility for the content or customer service related toproblems accessing the content.

The algorithm facility 144 may perform algorithms of all types includingalgorithms for combining information relating to a search, orderingresults from a search, or displaying results, sponsoring results, andthe like. For example, an algorithm facility may include an algorithm todefine how to incorporate the mobile subscriber characteristics into asearch query entered on the mobile communication facility 102. Thealgorithm may, for example, determine what information to use incombination with a search query, what information to use in an implicitsearch, what weight to provide to the various parts of the search (e.g.location receives a high weight in an implicit search), what sponsorsare acceptable, how results should be ordered, how results should bedisplayed (e.g., highlighted), and/or determine other parameters relatedto the search. An algorithm facility 144 may also include sponsorshipalgorithms, algorithms related to auctions, algorithms related to payper click, algorithms related to pay per call, or other algorithmsrelated to the development of a search as described herein.

The algorithm facility 144 may be a software tool used for evaluating anumber of possible solutions based upon a user query. The set of allpossible solutions may be called the search space. In general,uninformed searching may employ brute force searching or “naïve” searchalgorithms for relatively simple, direct traversal of the search space.By contrast, informed search algorithms may use heuristics to applyknowledge about the structure of the search space during a search.Potential algorithms that may be used in the algorithm facility 142include, but are not limited to, the uninformed search, informed search,tree search, list search, adversarial search, constraint satisfaction,genetic search, probabilistic search, simulated annealing, stringsearch, taboo search, and/or federated search.

A parental control facility 150 may be a software-based means ofrestricting access to certain types of (user-defined) objectionablecontent. The parent control facility 150 may include multi-level and/ordynamic web filtering technology to filter and block out inappropriatecontent. The parental control facility 150 may link to other features ofthe wireless search platform 100 or mobile communication facility 102.For example, the parental control facility 150 may, upon blockingobjectionable content, send an email notification or cell phone alertabout inappropriate web browsing, instant messaging, and chat sessions,etc. Comprehensive log reports can summarize a child's activities. Theparental control facility 150 may also include the means to control thetotal time that a user is permitted to use a mobile communicationfacility 102 or the Internet, filter web based email accounts, blockobjectionable pop up ads, etc.

A voice recognition facility 160 may be a software component enabling amachine or device (e.g., a cellular phone) to understand human spokenlanguage and to carry out spoken commands. Typically, a human voice isreceived by the device and converted to analog audio. The analog audiomay in turn be converted into a digital format using, for example, ananalog-to-digital converter, which digital data may be interpreted usingvoice recognition techniques. Generally this is done through the use ofa digital database storing a vocabulary of words or syllables, coupledwith a means of comparing this stored data with the digital voicesignals received by the device. The speech patterns of a unique user maybe stored on a hard drive (locally or remotely) or other memory device,and may be loaded into memory, in whole or in part, when the program isrun. A comparator may use, for example, correlation or other discreteFourier transform or statistical techniques to compare the storedpatterns against the output of the analog-digital converter.

The capacity of a voice recognition facility 160, such as vocabulary,speed, and length of digital samples that can be analyzed, may beconstrained by hardware capabilities of the voice recognition facility160, such as memory capacity, sampling rates, and processing speed, aswell as the complexity of algorithms used for comparisons.

An implicit query facility 164 may automatically generatecontext-sensitive queries based on a user's current activities,characteristics, and/or the user's device characteristics. For example,the implicit query facility 164 may retrieve Internet links, musicfiles, e-mails, and other materials that relate to an active user'squery, but which the user did not specifically query. Other data linkedto the user's mobile communication facility 102, for example geographiclocation obtained from the locator facility 110, may be used to initiatean implicit query for stores in the user's general facility that, basedon the user's previous Internet usage, are of likely interest to theuser. An implicit query facility may gather and download content ontothe mobile communication facility 102 in anticipation of a mobilecommunication facility user's desire for such information. Thistechnique of providing results in advance of the search query may beused to increase speed of content delivery, for example.

A client application interface may be associated with a mobilecommunication facility 102. The client application interface may be asoftware program operating through a processor (and operating system) onthe mobile communication facility, and the program may facilitateprocesses used in the mobile communication facility and/or generateinformation through the display 172. The client application interfacemay perform a number of functions associated with the processes anddevices as described herein. For example, the client applicationinterface may produce the search query entry facility, operate inassociation with a voice activation facility, operate in associationwith transmission and reception circuitry on the mobile communicationfacility, operate in association with mobile host facilities 114,produce a graphical user interface on the mobile communication facility,or perform other functions related to the mobile communication facilityand/or systems and processes as disclosed herein. The client applicationinterface may perform several functions, such as producing a graphicaluser interface on the mobile communication facility. Another functionmay be expanding a line item (e.g. a category, a download configurationor option, etc.) when a cursor or other interface is hovering on theitem or otherwise interacting with the item. Another function may be torepresent a hierarchy by a visual cue (e.g. with an arrow, multifacetedarrow, plus sign, or the like) with the sub-items appearing below whenthe visual cue is selected. Another function may be representing ahierarchy as line items with selection scrolling in another screen withthe sub-items. Another function may be to provide instrumentation toallow for tracking of user clicks just as web pages would be tracked forclick patterns. Another function may be using a camera associated withthe mobile communication facility to track phone movement as a methodfor navigating on the screen (e.g. scrolling up/down & left/right on apicture, map, or text to facilitate selection of an item, or the like).Another function may be to provide smooth visual transitions (e.g.hierarchy screen movements and expanding line item) which may providefurther visual indication, thereby increasing usage and sales. Anotherfunction may be to provide tool tips for icons. The tool tips may bepresented after a predetermined hover time is achieved or there may be avisual cue near an action icon, for example. Another function may be todownload suggestions in the background while cached suggestions arealready displayed. Another function may be to download suggestions todisplay next to cached suggestions. Another function may be to cacheresults (e.g. operate similarly to suggestions). Another function may beto operate with preinstalled cached suggestions. Another function may beto perform software update notification, wherein the user may have theoption to update. Another function may be to present notifications. Suchnotifications may be phased in to prevent millions of handsets fromtrying to update at the same time, for example. The client applicationinterface may be designed to handle multiple mobile communicationfacility variations without requiring different versions of thesoftware. The client application interface may generate a gradientshading and/or dithering to give color depth without putting a bitmap inthe application. This may be provided to reduce the application size tofacilitate downloads (e.g. increase speed of downloads). Anotherfunction may be to provide multi-lingual support. Another function maybe to allow a user to send to a friend results or an item result (e.g.this may apply to any of the delivery facilities presented herein).Another function may be to provide pagination for results to increasepage load speed and minimize network costs. Another function may be tosearch history stored locally to allow quick access from every listscreen. The client application interface may be designed to incorporatecarrier branding and the carrier branding may be in color and a logo maybe presented. Another function may be to provide different data transfermodes to allow for different mobile communication facilities, carriernetwork speeds, user data plans, or other situations. Another functionmay be to provide a thin visual cue for background network activitywithout taking significant screen real-estate and allowing for continuedinteractivity of application. Another function may be to provide askinnable search application whose arrangement and/or appearance may becustomized, or the client application interface may be locallyskinnable. Another function may be to provide a dynamic font selectionand display based on information relating to the mobile communicationfacility 102. Another function may be to provide a dynamic screenreformatting based on information relating to the mobile communicationfacility 102. Another function may be to provide for entry of a generaltopic with categories and associated results displayed to allow forselection of the rest of the query without having to type in the entirequery on a limited Query Entry Facility 120. Another function may be toprovide or associate with a dynamic cache size based on informationrelating to the mobile communication facility capabilities. Anotherfunction may be to pre-download information through search experience(e.g. downloading results in background before selecting content type).Another function may be to provide high speed and low speed networkcommunication based on changing data usage pattern or on other factors(e.g. processing more transactions in the background when the mobilecommunication facility is associated with a slow network). Anotherfunction may be to provide query composition using a combination ofsuggestions. The client application interface may perform otherfunctions as needed on the mobile communication facility in connectionwith the functions and facilities outlined herein as well as otherconventional functions of the mobile communication facility 102. Anotherfunction may be to use dynamic memory management, specifically usingmore or less memory for previous screens, pre-fetched information orcached data based on the capabilities of the device, and based on theother memory demands of the device, such as other applications orcontent on the phone. Another function may be to automatically updatethe application, with the user's permission. This particular functionmay be deployed in a phased manner that does not force all devices donot require updating at the same time.

In a wireless search platform 100, a mobile communication facility 102may include a cache such as a cache memory, or a portion of a memoryorganized as a cache or other form or transactional memory. The memorymay be a hard drive, a static memory, volatile memory, removable drive,jumpdrive, flash memory, non-volatile memory or other form of memory.The memory may be permanently installed in the mobile communicationfacility 102, or may be removable such as a memory card or jumpdrive.

The cache may contain suggestions, such as mobile content, which may beaccessed and presented on a display of the mobile communication facility102 as a result of an action by a user of the mobile communicationfacility 102. The cached information may also be accessed and presentedas a result of an action by a provider of services to the mobilecommunication facility 102, or by an automated application running onthe mobile communication facility 102. Suggestions may be cached locallyon the mobile communication facility 102 and blended with theperformance of network updates to facilitate optimizing the overallperformance of the wireless platform 100.

Data stored in the cache may be input directly by the user (e.g. a username, address, search query). Alternatively the data stored in the cachemay be transferred from the mobile network from a server 134, wirelessprovider 108, or a mobile search host facility 114. The cached data maybe compressed prior to transmission to the mobile communication facility102, and may be decompressed after receipt on the mobile communicationfacility 102. The data may be decompressed upon receipt, or may bedecompressed as the data is accessed to be presented.

The cached data may be mobile content such as sponsored content, asponsored link, a sponsored call, downloadable content, an audio stream,a video, a graphic element, an index such as a yellow pages or a whitepages. Caching mobile content facilitates fast access and display of thecontent when needed to reply to a user query or input.

A client application interface of the mobile communication facility 102may download suggestions in the background while cached suggestions aredisplayed. Another client application interface function may be todownload and display network suggestions next to cached suggestions. Theclient application interface may cache search results (e.g. operatesimilarly to caching suggestions), or it may operate with preinstalledcached suggestions.

Suggestions, information, and mobile content to be downloaded to themobile communication facility 102 may be generated by a server 134 ormobile search host facility 114 by ranking content based uponpopularity, the frequency of query activity, frequency within content,the acceleration of the frequency of content, the frequency ofpurchases, the sales conversion rate, as well as any changes that occurto any of these metrics.

Suggestions may be retrieved from the cache in response to a query inputby the user. If the cache cannot provide a full list of suggestions, arequest may be sent to a server 134 or a mobile search host facility114. However, a request for suggestions may be sent by the mobilecommunication facility 102 independent of the amount of relevantsuggestions in the cache. This facilitates keeping the cachedsuggestions updated. These updated suggestions may be displayed alongwith the cached suggestions, and then the updated suggestions may becached to speed up future suggestions. The updated suggestions maysupplement or replace the previously cached suggestions. The previouslycached suggestions may be replaced if the new suggestions are rankedhigher.

Suggestions, content, and other information cached on the mobilecommunication facility 102 may be identified with a date stamp or timestamp of caching. A function of the client application interface may beto request updates to cached information based on the age of the cachedinformation. As an example such a function may ensure that cachedsuggestions are updated every 48 hours or sooner.

To effectively use the cache memory resources of the mobilecommunication facility 102, a server may reply to a request for anupdate of cached suggestions with information that indicates the cachedsuggestions no longer rank high enough relative to other suggestions oruser characteristics to continue to be stored on the mobilecommunication facility 102. In such an example, the client applicationinterface may delete the appropriate cached information such that itwill not appear in response to future searches or queries, freeing upthe memory for other uses. Upon detecting a query to which the serverindicates cached information is obsolete, the server 134 may alsodownload new suggestions, information, content, or the like to themobile communication facility 102 for caching.

Suggestions, mobile content, or information may be downloaded to thecache of a mobile communication facility 102 through an explicit search,or through an implicit search. An example of an explicit search includesa user entering a search query in the user interface of a mobilecommunication facility 102 and requesting a search. An implicit searchincludes search activity performed either as a result of a query by theclient application interface of the mobile communication facility 102without a user query entry, or by one or more applications running onthe server 134 or the mobile search host facility 114. Implicit searchesmay be triggered based on a schedule, based on a change in location of amobile communication facility 102, and based on the age of the cachedinformation in the mobile communication facility 102 cache memory. As anexample, a user's location may change such as when a user travels to adifferent city. This change in location may trigger an implicit searchof local restaurants meeting a criteria established based on prior userbehavior, perhaps including other users' behavior upon entering thislocation.

The presentation of information, such as cached suggestions, may be theresult of user search query. If there is a matching relationship betweenthe search query and the previously downloaded results in the mobilecommunication facility 102 cache, the previously downloaded results maybe presented. The user may perceive this as a very fast search or a highbandwidth connection because the search results are presented from amemory of the mobile communication facility 102.

Cached suggestions may also be presented to a user even if the usercannot connect to the wireless network, enabling the user to gain accessto important network information which has been cached on the user'smobile communication facility 102.

The cached information may be presented in categorized groups, inthumbnail format, or in a preview format such as an audible ring tonepreview, a text excerpt, a video excerpt, an audio file excerpt or inanother format.

A client application interface may process or cause processes to occurin the background. For example, in embodiments, results may be presentedto the mobile communication facility 102 as they are retrieved withoutwaiting for the entire result set to be retrieved. In embodiments,certain results may be presented and displayed while other results arein the process of being presented or displayed. This backgroundprocessing of results may increase the speed at which some results canbe presented to a mobile communication facility 102. In embodiments,certain categories of results may be presented to the mobilecommunication facility 102 before other categories. For example, imagesmay take longer to download, process, and/or collect as compared toringtones, so the category of ringtones, or individual ringtones, may bepresented to the mobile communication facility 102 before or while theimage results or image category is presented.

FIG. 3 illustrates a generalized disambiguation process for adisambiguation facility 140 associated with a mobile communicationfacility 102 and a data source, such as a mobile subscribercharacteristics database 112, according to an aspect of the presentinvention. The disambiguation facility 140 is a means for derivinggreater clarity from ambiguous user queries. As depicted in the FIG. 3schematic, a query entry 120 may be processed through a wirelesscommunication facility 104 and/or wireless provider 108 to adisambiguation facility 140. Although the example provided in FIG. 3shows a disambiguation facility 140 linked to a mobile subscribercharacteristics database 112, the disambiguation facility 140 may linkto any number of other data sources (e.g., carrier business rules 130,content walled garden 132, etc.). Similarly, disambiguation may proceedthrough facilities other than a disambiguation facility 140 (e.g., aparent controls facility 150 or algorithm facility 144). As shown inFIG. 3, the disambiguation facility 140 may receive the query from thewireless communication facility 104 or the wireless provider 108 andlink the query to information known about the user that is stored in themobile subscriber database 112 (e.g., age, sex, past Internet usage,etc.). This additional information, coupled with the original queryentry 120, may permit an unambiguous query to be processed. For example,a user may enter a query entry 120 of “Royals.” This query entry 120 maybe processed through the wireless communication facility 104 or awireless provider 108 to a disambiguation facility 140 that is linked toa mobile subscriber database 112 containing, among other data, theuser's residence of Kansas City, Mo. The disambiguation facility 140 maylink this demographic information to the query entry 120 “Royals” andpredict (i.e., disambiguate) that the user is more likely seekinginformation pertaining to the Kansas City Royals baseball team thaninformation about the family of Swedish Royals. Disambiguation mayinclude part-of-speech disambiguation, word sense disambiguation, phraseidentification, named entry recognition, or full sentential parsing.Part-of-speech disambiguation refers to the process of assigning apart-of-speech tag (e.g., noun, verb, adjective) to each word in aquery. By assigning the part-of-speech tag to each word, the device candraw inferences about each word by virtue of its context. For example,the word “house” may be a noun or a verb. By tagging this word with anappropriate part-of-speech tag, additional information about the userquery, and its ultimate goal, may be derived. Word sense disambiguationrefers to the process of sorting words that have multiple meanings.Phrase identification refers to the process of relating each word toothers within a phrase to derive the context of individual words. Namedentity recognition generally refers to recognition of proper nouns thatrefer to specific names, places, countries, etc. Full sentential parsingis the process of decomposing a sentence into smaller units andidentifying the grammatical role of each and its relation to the otherunits. These and other techniques may be employed within thedisambiguation facility 140 to infer a user's intended meaning for asearch or search string.

FIG. 4 depicts an interactive process between the mobile communicationfacility 102 and the query assistance facility 210 that may be used forassisted query formation 2400. Once a user submits a query entry 120 tothe mobile communication facility 102, a process of correction 244 maybe necessary for assisted query formation 2400 that is sufficient toyield intelligible and useful result set(s). This process may occur onthe client side 102 and/or within the mobile communication facility 104.As part of the correction 244 process, information specific to the typeof mobile communication facility 102 may be used; for example, if thedevice has unique delivery capabilities, the query may need correctionin order to derive a result set compatible with these capabilities.Information stored in the mobile subscriber characteristics database112, location information 2408, or time information 2410 may also beused with the correction 244 process.

For example, a user may provide a query entry 120 “Coltrain” that issent through a wireless communication facility 104 so that the queryassistance facility 210 may begin. Because the query assistance facility210 is linked to other data sources, as part of the correction 244process, information from the filter algorithm facility 144 may belinked to the query entry 120 to provide more information to be used inthe process of producing a more useful search query. In this example,the user's filter algorithm facility 144 may use information such as ahistory of online purchases, product names, numbers, purchase amounts,and purchase dates and times. Within the databases associated with thefilter algorithm facility 144 there may be a history of many recentpurchases of compact discs recorded by the saxophonist, John Coltrane.Because the original user query entry 120, “Coltrain” is not a knownword, the query assistance facility 210 may predict a correction 244,taking into account user-specific data contained in the purchase historyof the filter algorithm facility 144, such as that the user seeksinformation pertaining to “Coltrane,” as opposed to “Coal Train” or“Soul Train,” etc. In various embodiments, or particular user searcheswithin one embodiment, the query assistance facility 210 may involve oneof these additional data facilities, a plurality of the data facilities,or none of the data facilities.

It is possible that a user's query entry 120 returns a null result setor an improbable result set. In this case, the search facility, inconjunction with the mobile communication facility 102, couldautomatically trigger correction 244 and iteratively cycle throughalternative query entries 120 until a non-null or higher probabilityresult set is delivered.

In embodiments, additional recommendations may be made following auser's query entry based upon the information related to the mobilecommunication facility. For example, mobile subscriber characteristics,carrier business rules, or sponsor information, in conjunction with thequery entry, may suggest relevant recommendations for the user. Therecommendations may be paired with the query entry search results orpresented prior to, or following, the display of the search results.

A user's prior search activities and search results may also be used tocreate recommendations for the user. Prior search activities may includetransactions, search queries, visits to websites, and other actsinitiated by the user on the mobile communication facility. Thegeographic location of the mobile communication facility may fosterrecommendations including, but not limited to, sponsor information (e.g.products and services) in the user's current geographic vicinity. Thecurrent time may be used independently or in conjunction with otherinformation to create user recommendations. For example, the independentfact that it is noon, may create recommendations for restaurants servinglunch. This information may be further filtered by the location of themobile communication facility to recommend only those restaurants thatare in the user's immediate vicinity and further filtered by thesubscriber's characteristics to recommend only that subset ofrestaurants serving lunch in the user's current vicinity that havereceived high ratings by restaurant patrons with a demographic profilesimilar to the user's. As with the above restaurant example, similarprocesses for generating meaningful recommendations may be applied toother services and products, including transportation, food, theater,sports, entertainment, movies, corporations, work, banks, post offices,mail facilities; location of and directions to gas stations, taxis,buses, trains, cars, airports, baby sitters, and other service and goodsproviders such as drug stores, drive through restaurants, bars, clubs;times of movies and entertainment; news; and local information.

Various aspects of the assisted query formulation 2400 may be activatedor de-activated under user or provider control. For example, a user witha particular search, such as a phone number for a particular individual,may wish to suppress corrections or suggestions that might be generatedwith assisted query formulation 2400, which might otherwise try toreplace a correct, but unusual, name spelling with more conventional orpopular subject matter. Thus in one aspect, a user interface for anassisted query formation system may include controls for selectivelyactivating various ones of the tools available to the system. The toolsmay include, for example, the recommendations, predictions,disambiguations, categorizations, and the like discussed above. Inanother aspect, a service provider such as the wireless provider 108 ormobile communication facility 102 described above may offer selectedones of the tools as value-added services that may be provided to selectcustomers, such as full-service or premium customers, or offered on an ala carte basis individually or in packages. In such embodiments, queryassistance may be requested by a customer using, e.g., a web site,cellular phone data access, or telephone voice access, and may berequested on a subscription basis, such as recurring monthly, or on adaily or per search basis.

FIG. 5 shows a generalized process for the ordering 500, displaying 502,and sponsorship 504 prioritization of query results based upon theassociation of a query entry 120 with additional data sources, such as amobile subscriber characteristics database 112, a filter algorithmfacility 144, a location database 2408, and/or a time data 2410. Theordering 500, display 502, and sponsorship 504 prioritization mayinvolve one of these additional data facilities, a plurality of the datafacilities, or none of the data facilities as appropriate.

In embodiments, the methods and systems disclosed herein can be adaptedto provide an optimized search based on mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, including any of the characteristics 112 describedherein and in the documents incorporated by reference herein. Thus,these methods and systems may include providing a search functionadapted for a mobile device and adapting the search function based oncharacteristics of the subscriber of the mobile device, wherein thesubscriber characteristics are derived at least in part from a mobilesubscriber data facility that is maintained by a carrier of mobiledevice services.

In embodiments the adapted search function may be an implicit query, anactive query, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filteringfunction, a presentation function, a routing function, or anotherfunction or action related to initiation, processing, or completion of asearch or presentation of search results.

In one embodiment the search function is adapted based on age. Theage-adapted search function may be an implicit query, an active query, adisambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filtering function, apresentation function, a routing function, or another function or actionrelating to the initiation, processing, or completion of a search. Forexample, a mobile communication facility 102 may have an implicit query204 running, so that upon viewing a user interface of the mobilecommunication facility 102, the user sees results of a query that isautomatically pre-formulated for the user. The implicit query 204 may bebased on the age of the user, such as running the query most frequentlyrun by persons of similar age on the same day. For example, a teenagermight have an implicit query 204 that relates to a music group or movie,an adult might have an implicit query that relates to major newheadlines, and a retired person might have an implicit query thatrelates to information relevant to financial markets. An age-adaptedsearch function may also operate in connection with an active query; forexample, a given query may return results that are age-appropriate,age-filtered, age-ranked, or age-disambiguated. For example, entering“Pink” might return results for Pink Floyd if the user is over age 30,while it might return results for the female artist Pink if the user isunder 30. A user might be prompted to resolve such an ambiguity, or theambiguity might be automatically resolved for the user. Thus, anage-adapted search function may be provided for a mobile communicationfacility. In embodiments, the age of the user may be obtained from amobile subscriber data facility that stores mobile subscribercharacteristics 112.

In one embodiment the search function is adapted based on gender. Thegender-adapted search function may be an implicit query, an activequery, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filteringfunction, a presentation function, a routing function, or anotherfunction or action relating to the initiation, processing, or completionof a search. Gender may be determined by reference to a database thatstores mobile subscriber characteristics 112, such as a database of acarrier of wireless services. A gender-adapted search function may, forexample, inform an implicit query 204, such as presenting results of thesearches that are most popular for that gender for that day. Similarly,results may be disambiguated by a disambiguation process 210 that isinformed by gender. For example, the search process might run a query ona database of female-oriented sites if the user is female while runninga query on male-oriented sites if the user is male. Similarly, adisambiguation process 210 may filter results based on gender. Forexample, a query such as “uprights” might return results for vacuumcleaners for a female user while returning results for football kickersfor a male user.

In one embodiment the search function is adapted based on ethnicity. Theethnicity-adapted search function may be an implicit query, an activequery, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filteringfunction, a presentation function, a routing function, or anotherfunction or action relating to the initiation, processing, or completionof a search. For example, an implicit query 204 may generate resultsthat are most popular among members of an ethnic group. A search orquery formation process may search for results that relate to a targetedethnic group. A disambiguation process 210 (either upon query formationor upon result retrieval or presentation) may disambiguate based onethnicity. For example, a query related to “paris” might return resultsfor Paris, France, for a French person, while returning results forParis Hilton for an American. Ethnicity information may be obtained froma database of mobile subscriber characteristics 112, or it might beentered by the user in the user interface.

In one embodiment the search function is adapted based on religion orcultural affinity. The religion-adapted search function may be animplicit query, an active query, a disambiguation action, a retrievalfunction, a filtering function, a presentation function, a routingfunction, or another function or action relating to the initiation,processing, or completion of a search. The information may be obtainedfrom a mobile subscriber characteristics 112 database, either obtainedby a carrier based on application or transactions, or inferred based onpast behavior or searches of the user. The religion-adapted searchfunction may, for example, run implicit queries that are most popularamong members of the same religious affiliation. A religion-adapteddisambiguation facility may disambiguate queries based on religiousaffiliation. For example, a query for “Muhammed” might returninformation about the prophet for members of Islamic religions, while itmight return information about the boxer for those who don't havereligious affiliations.

In one embodiment the search function is adapted based on area code. Thearea code-adapted search function may be an implicit query, an activequery, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filteringfunction, a presentation function, a routing function, or anotherfunction or action relating to the initiation, processing, or completionof a search. For example, a user with a given area code could receiveimplicit query results based on other searches by members of the samearea code. Also, queries may be disambiguated or results filtered,sorted, or presented based on area code (or other location information).For example, a user entering “Paris” in the 270 area code might receiveresults for Paris, Tenn.; a user entering “Paris” in the 310 area codemight receive results for Paris, Hilton; and a user entering the sameword in the 617 area code might receive results for Paris, France.

In one embodiment the search function is adapted based on home address.The address-adapted search function may be an implicit query, an activequery, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filteringfunction, a presentation function, a routing function, or anotherfunction or action relating to the initiation, processing, or completionof a search. As with the area code-adapted search function exampleabove, the implicit query, disambiguation, or results can be variedbased on the location of the user's home address (information that canbe obtained from, for example, a carrier's database of mobile subscribercharacteristics 112).

In one embodiment the search function is adapted based on work address.The work-address-adapted search function may be an implicit query, anactive query, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filteringfunction, a presentation function, a routing function, or anotherfunction or action relating to the initiation, processing, or completionof a search. For example, a user may see results of an implicit query204 that is the same as other queries from the user's employer, such aspress releases that mention the employer. A disambiguation facility 210may resolve ambiguity (including with help of the user) based on workaddress. For example, a user with a work address at a location ofGeneral Electric might receive search results on that company whenentering the term “light” in a search engine, while a user with adifferent work address might receive results relating to lightingproducts. Again, the work address information may be obtained from adatabase of mobile subscriber characteristics 112, such as maintained bya carrier of wireless services.

In one embodiment the search function is adapted based on billingaddress. The billing-address-adapted search function may be an implicitquery, an active query, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, afiltering function, a presentation function, a routing function, oranother function or action relating to the initiation, processing, orcompletion of a search. The billing address information may be obtainedfrom a database of mobile subscriber characteristics 112, such as may bemaintained by a carrier of wireless services. Thebilling-address-adapted search function may, for example, presentimplicit query results similar to those of other users with the samebilling address (such as queries relevant to the business enterprisethat exists at that billing address). Similarly, queries may bedisambiguated or results filtered, sorted, presented, or routed based onbilling address. For example, a user with a billing address at alocation of a large company may be presented with results that relate tothat company, while a user with a residential address as the billingaddress may receive results that are tailored to users in the generalarea of that location.

In embodiments, information about the user's home address, area code,billing address, or other location information may be combined withinformation about a user's current location as determined by a locationfacility 110, such as to determine whether a user is in proximity to theuser's home or workplace. If so, a user may receive query resultssuitable for one of those environments (such as receiving work-relatedinformation while at work and consumer information while at home). Ifthe user is far from home and work, then the user may receive (byimplicit query, or as a result of a search) results that are pertinentto travel in the location where the user is located, such as hotel, carrental, and restaurant information. Similarly, an away-from-home usermay have an implicit query formed, or a partial query disambiguated,based on the user's status as a traveler. For example, a partial entryfor “hot” might return shopping bargains for a user close to home, whileit might return hotels for a user who is traveling.

In one embodiment the search function is adapted based on credit cardinformation. The credit card information-adapted search function may bean implicit query, an active query, a disambiguation action, a retrievalfunction, a filtering function, a presentation function, a routingfunction, or another function or action relating to the initiation,processing, or completion of a search. The credit card information maybe obtained from a database of mobile subscriber characteristics 112 orfrom a credit card provider. The information may include informationrelating to current balances, credit limits, or the like. For example,an implicit query may present results based on the available creditbalance for a user, such as presenting searches or results for expensivegoods for a user who has a low balance and high credit limit, whilepresenting searches or results for financial counselors for users whohave high balances and low credit limits.

In one embodiment the search function is adapted based on passwords. Thepassword-adapted search function may be an implicit query, an activequery, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filteringfunction, a presentation function, a routing function, or anotherfunction or action relating to the initiation, processing, or completionof a search. Thus, a mobile search facility may include apassword-protected search capability, such as allowing searches forcertain types of content only if the user enters the correct password.For example, walled garden content like ringtones or video clips mightbe available only if the user enters a password that is stored in thedatabase of mobile subscriber characteristics 112.

In one embodiment the search function is adapted based on familyinformation (e.g., mother's maiden name, number of siblings, maritalstatus, or the like). The family information-adapted search function maybe an implicit query, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search. For example, animplicit search may be running that presents searches or results thatare similar to those recently run by family members or friends of theuser. A disambiguation process 210 may operate based on familyinformation, such as resolving ambiguity in queries based on searchesconducted by family members, or based on the status of the family.Similarly, results may be filtered, sorted, presented, or routed basedon family information. For example, a search for the term custody mightlead to results on child custody for a divorced user, while it mightreveal information on trust and custody accounts for a married user.

In one embodiment the search function is adapted based on birthplace.The birthplace adapted search function may be an implicit query, anactive query, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filteringfunction, a presentation function, a routing function, or anotherfunction or action relating to the initiation, processing, or completionof a search. Thus, an implicit search based on birthplace may includesearches or results that are similar to those of other users with thesame birthplace or users currently located in proximity to thebirthplace. Similarly, results may be filtered or queries disambiguatedbased on birthplace. For example, entering “derby” may retrieve resultsrelating to horse racing for users born in Kentucky, while it mayretrieve results relating to hats for users born elsewhere.

In one embodiment the search function is adapted based on driver'slicense information. The license-information-adapted search function maybe an implicit query, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search. License informationmay include age and address information, which may be used ascontemplated by the various age- and location-based search functionexamples provided herein. License information may also include height,weight, hair color, eye color, vision status, and the like. For example,a user may be presented results that are similar to those of persons ofsimilar appearance.

In one embodiment the search function is adapted based on employmentdata. The position-adapted search function may be an implicit query, anactive query, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filteringfunction, a presentation function, a routing function, or anotherfunction or action relating to the initiation, processing, or completionof a search. The employment data may be obtained from a database ofmobile subscriber characteristics 112, such as that maintained by acarrier of wireless services. The employment data may, for example,indicate a user's status as an officer of a company, as an employee of acertain type (e.g., sales and marketing, supply chain management,finance, human resources, or the like) or level (e.g., associate,manager, vice-president, etc.), length of employment, or other status.For example, an implicit query 204 may present results similar to thosefor searches run by users holding similar positions in other companies.Similarly, a query may be disambiguated, or a result retrieved, sorted,filtered, presented, or routed, based on the user's position. Forexample, a sales manager entering “incentive” might receive informationon promotions related to his employer's products, while a humanresources manager might receive information relating to employeeincentive stock options.

In one embodiment the search function is adapted based on employer. Theemployer-adapted search function may be an implicit query, an activequery, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filteringfunction, a presentation function, a routing function, or anotherfunction or action relating to the initiation, processing, or completionof a search. An employer-adapted implicit query may show results similarto those for other searches run by employees of the same employer on thesame day or in recent days. An employer-adapted disambiguation facility204 may resolve ambiguities as to the query or results based on thestatus of the employer, and an employer-adapted search function mayretrieve, sort, present, or route results based on employercharacteristics, such as obtained from a database of mobile subscribercharacteristics 112. For example, a user whose employer is the UnitedStates Patent Office might receive information on processing patents inresponse to a query on “application”, while a Microsoft employee mightreceive information on software applications in response to the samequery.

In one embodiment the search function is adapted based on annual income.The annual income adapted search function may be an implicit query, anactive query, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filteringfunction, a presentation function, a routing function, or anotherfunction or action relating to the initiation, processing, or completionof a search. Annual income may be obtained from a database of mobilesubscriber characteristics 112, such as that maintained by a carrier ofwireless services. An implicit query 204 may thus present results thatare for searches by incomes of similar annual income, or searches thatare designed to fit the demographic characteristics for that annualincome. For example, middle-income individuals may be presented resultsfor mid-sized, value-based cars, while high-income individuals may bepresented results for luxury items, vacations, or the like. Adisambiguation facility 204 may resolve ambiguities about queries, and asearch function may retrieve, sort, present, or route results based onannual income. For example, a query for “boat” might run a query orreveal results for commuter boat schedules for individuals of middleincome but might run a query or reveal results for yachts forhigh-income individuals.

As with annual income-adapted searches, in one embodiment the searchfunction is adapted based on income bracket. The income-bracket adaptedsearch function may be an implicit query, an active query, adisambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filtering function, apresentation function, a routing function, or another function or actionrelating to the initiation, processing, or completion of a search.

In one embodiment the search function is adapted based on itemspurchased. The items-purchased-adapted search function may be animplicit query, an active query, a disambiguation action, a retrievalfunction, a filtering function, a presentation function, a routingfunction, or another function or action relating to the initiation,processing, or completion of a search. Items purchased may be obtainedfrom a database maintained by a carrier, such as showing transactionsmade using a mobile communication facility 102. For example, implicitqueries may be run and results presented based on transaction history,such as presenting results for peripherals and software applications forindividuals who have recently purchased a computer, or the like.Similarly, queries may be disambiguated, or search results retrieved,sorted, presented, or routed based on items purchased by a user. Forexample, a user who has recently purchased a car and who enters “car” ina user interface may receive information about registering the car,obtaining insurance, or the like, while a user who has recently shoppedfor, but not purchased, a car may receive results showing ratings ofcars.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on friendsand family information (including any of the foregoing types ofinformation as stored in a database of mobile subscriber characteristics112). The friend-and-family information-adapted search function 142 maybe an implicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search. For example, a usermay be presented implicit query 164 results similar to those of familymembers or friends. A user query may be disambiguated, or search resultsretrieved, sorted, presented, or routed based on friends and familyinformation. For example, a user entering “sister” in a user interfacemay receive results obtained by a sister's most recent searches, while auser who does not have friends and family might receive results relatingto nuns.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on billamount(s). The bill-amount-adapted search function 142 may be animplicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search. For example, a userwhose bill is declining may be presented with offers to obtain moremobile services, while a user whose bill is very high might receiveinformation about making choices that will reduce the cost of wirelessservices.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on averagebill total. The average bill-adapted search function 142 may be animplicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search. For example, a userwhose current bill exceeds the average may be presented with resultsrelating to saving money, while a user whose current bill is less thanthe average may be presented with opportunities to purchase otherservices or content, such as walled garden content 132.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on paymenthistory. The payment-history-adapted search function 142 may be animplicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search. For example, a userwho is up-to-date on payments may receive offers for additionalservices, while a user who is delayed may receive reminders or mayreceive results that relate to managing debt. Similarly, users whosepayment histories are favorable may be presented with results thatrelate to more expensive goods and services.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on on-timepayment history. The on-time payment-history adapted search function 142may be an implicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action,a retrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search. For example, userswith very good records of making payments on time may be presented withmore favorable offers, such as incentives or promotions, based on theprediction that their payment histories will continue to be favorable.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on on-lineusage amount. The on-line usage amount-adapted search function 142 maybe an implicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search. The usage amount maybe obtained from a database maintained by a wireless service provider.On-line usage amount may be used to generate implicit query 164 results.For example, heavy users may be presented with results similar to otherheavy users (such as more specialized types of results), while lessheavy users may be presented with more general results, such as newsheadlines. Queries may be disambiguated, or results retrieved, sorted,presented or routed, based on on-line usage amount. For example, a heavyon-line user entering “blog” may be sent to the day's most popularblogs, while a light user might be presented with more general resultsdescribing the blogging phenomenon.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on durationof on-line interactions. The duration-adapted search function 142 may bean implicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search. For example, in animplicit query 164 204, a user with a history of long interactions maybe presented with a more complex or extensive result set, while a userwith a history of short interactions may be presented only with basicinformation. Similarly, a disambiguation facility 204 or a searchfunction 142 that retrieves, sorts, presents, or routes results may doso based on duration of on-line interactions. For example, a user whoseinteractions are long may be presented with long articles, scientificresearch, or the like, while a user with shorter duration interactionsmay be presented only with news headlines or the like. Similarly, forexample, a short-duration user entering “football” may receive a list ofthe day's scores, while a long-duration user may receive articles onfootball.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on number ofon-line interactions. The interaction-adapted search function 142 may bean implicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search. For example, in animplicit query 204, a user with a history of many interactions may bepresented with more results, while a user with few interactions may bepresented only with the most pertinent results. Similarly, adisambiguation facility 204 or a search function 142 that retrieves,sorts, presents, or routes results may do so based on number orfrequency of on-line interactions, such as indicated by a database of awireless provider 108. For example, a user whose interactions are manymay be presented with long result sets, while a user with fewerinteractions may be presented only with the most relevant results.Similarly, for example, a frequent user entering “Peter” may receiveonly information relating to uses of that name in the day's news, whilea less frequent visitor might receive more general results, ranging fromPeter the Great to Pete Townsend to Peter Rabbit.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on familystatus and family information. The family-information adapted searchfunction 142 may be an implicit query 164, an active query, adisambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filtering function, apresentation function, a routing function, or another function or actionrelating to the initiation, processing, or completion of a search. Forexample, an implicit search may present results about dating orrelationships to a single user, while a married user may receive resultsrelating to child rearing. Similarly, a disambiguation process 210 or asearch function 142 that retrieves, sorts, presents, or routes resultsmay use family status and family information. For example, a single userentering “love” may receive results relating to dating andrelationships, while a married user might receive information relatingto anniversaries.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on number ofchildren. The number-of-children-adapted search function 142 may be animplicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search. The number ofchildren may be obtained from a database of mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, such as that maintained by a wireless provider 108.An implicit query 204 may run based on number of children. For example,a childless user may receive results based on other factors, while auser with four children might receive implicit query 204 results thatrelate to childrearing or to educational funding products. Similarly,queries may be disambiguated, or results returned, sorted, presented, orrouted based on number of children. For example, a user with childrenentering the term “cold” might receive health-related informationrelating to outbreaks of the common cold, while a user with no childrenmight receive general weather information.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on shoppinghabits (e.g., views of or purchases of goods and services made with atechnology like Mobile Lime). The shopping-habit-adapted search function142 may be an implicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguationaction, a retrieval function, a filtering function, a presentationfunction, a routing function, or another function or action relating tothe initiation, processing, or completion of a search. For example, auser who shops frequently for music may be presented with music-orientedcontent in an implicit search 204, while the implicit search may presentdifferent items to other users whose shopping habits are different.Similarly, queries may be disambiguated, or results returned, sorted,presented, or routed, based on shopping habits. For example, a frequentbook purchaser may be presented with Stephen King books upon entering“King” in a query interface, while a frequent music purchaser may bepresented with results related to Elvis Presley.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on clickstream information. The click stream-adapted search function 142 may bean implicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search. The click streaminformation may be stored on the mobile communication facility 102 or ina remote location, such as a database or server maintained by a wirelessprovider 108 or an entity operating on behalf of a wireless provider108. A click stream-adapted search function 142 may run implicit queries204 based on past behavior, such as running queries for new cars if theuser has recently viewed cars with the mobile communications facility102. Similarly, queries may be disambiguated, or results returned,sorted, presented, or routed, based on click stream information. Forexample, a user entering a partial URL into a query facility may bedirected to a recently visited web site, while another user would bedirected to a process for resolving ambiguity. Click stream informationmay be used to infer a wide range of behaviors and characteristics.Thus, the other embodiments described herein may take place incombination with deriving one or more mobile subscriber characteristics112 from click stream information. For example, if click streaminformation shows that a user has visited twenty female-oriented sites,then the information can be used to infer the gender of the user, afterwhich various embodiments of gender-adapted search function 142 sdescribed herein are enabled.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on devicetype. The device type-adapted search function 142 may be an implicitquery 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, a retrievalfunction, a filtering function, a presentation function, a routingfunction, or another function or action relating to the initiation,processing, or completion of a search. For example, implicit queries maybe run to retrieve results that are suitable for the type of device andfilter out other results. For example, if a mobile communicationsfacility 102 does not have a video rendering capability, thenvideo-related results can be filtered out of the process. Similarly,queries may be disambiguated, or results retrieved, sorted, presented,or routed based on device type. For example, a user may be presentedwith results of walled garden content 132 that is consistent with adevice. Upon entering a query, a user may receive results that arefiltered to include content items that are viewable/downloadable for thedevice and to exclude other content. Device type, which may be obtainedfrom the database of mobile subscriber characteristics 112, may also beused to infer other items. For example, a particular device may be mostpopular with a particular age or gender of users, in which case theresults can be adapted in a manner similar to that described inconnection with the age-adapted search function 142 described herein.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on deviceversion. The device version-adapted search function 142 may be animplicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search. The device versionmay be retrieved from a database of mobile subscriber characteristics112, such as that maintained by a wireless provider 108. For example,implicit queries may be run to retrieve results that are suitable forthe particular version of a device and filter out other results. Forexample, if a mobile communication facility 102 does not have a videorendering capability, then video-related results can be filtered out ofthe process. Similarly, queries may be disambiguated, or resultsretrieved, sorted, presented, or routed based on device version. Forexample, a user may be presented with results of walled garden content132 that is consistent with the correct version of a device. Uponentering a query, a user may receive results that are filtered toinclude content items that are viewable/downloadable for the version ofthe device and to exclude other content. Device version, which may beobtained from the database of mobile subscriber characteristics 112, mayalso be used to infer other items. For example, a particular deviceversion may be most popular with a particular age or gender of users, inwhich case the results can be adapted in a manner similar to thatdescribed in connection with the age-adapted search function 142described herein.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on devicecharacteristics. The device characteristics-adapted search function 142may be an implicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action,a retrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search. The devicecharacteristics may be retrieved from a database of mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, such as that maintained by a wireless provider 108.Characteristics may include the type of device, applications running onthe device (e.g., capability to show photos, render video, play music,or the like). For example, implicit queries may be run to retrieveresults that are suitable for the particular characteristics of aversion of a device and filter out other results. For example, if amobile communications facility 102 does not have a photo imagingcapability, then photo-related results can be filtered out of theprocess. Similarly, queries may be disambiguated, or results retrieved,sorted, presented, or routed based on device characteristics. Forexample, a user may be presented with results of walled garden content132 that is consistent with the correct characteristics of a device.Upon entering a query, a user may receive results that are filtered toinclude content items that are viewable and/or downloadable for thecharacteristics of the device and to exclude other content. For example,a user with a device that plays .mp3 files may receive music files uponentering a query for “bruce”, while a user without music capabilitiesmay receive web search results related to Bruce Springsteen. Devicecharacteristics, which may be obtained from the database of mobilesubscriber characteristics 112, may also be used to infer other items.For example, particular device characteristics may be most popular witha particular age of user or gender, in which case the results can beadapted in a manner similar to that described in connection with theage-adapted search function 142 described herein.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on usagepatterns (including those based on location, time of day, or othervariables). The usage-pattern-adapted search function 142 may be animplicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search. For example, if auser frequently searches for restaurants on weekends, then an implicitquery 204 may run restaurant searches on weekends. Similarly, the samequery (e.g., “rest” may return restaurant-related results on weekends,while revealing results related to restructured text during work hours(particularly if the usage pattern indicates that the user is a softwareengineer). Thus, a disambiguation process 210 or a search function 142to retrieve, sort, present, or route results may use usage patterns toaccomplish those functions. Usage patterns may be obtained from adatabase of mobile subscriber characteristics 112, such as thatmaintained by a wireless provider 108. A wide range of usage patternsmay be used to assist with formation of queries (implicit and explicit)and with retrieval and organization of results. The algorithm facility144 may include one or more modules or engines suitable for analyzingusage patterns to assist with such functions. For example, an algorithmfacility 144 may analyze usage patterns based on time of day, day ofweek, day of month, day of year, work day patterns, holiday patterns,time of hour, patterns surrounding transactions, patterns surroundingincoming and outgoing phone calls, patterns of clicks and clickthroughs,patterns of communications (e.g., Internet, email and chat), and anyother patterns that can be discerned from data that is collected by awireless provider 108 or Internet service provider. Usage patterns maybe analyzed using various predictive algorithms, such as regressiontechniques (least squares and the like), neural net algorithms, learningengines, random walks, Monte Carlo simulations, and others. For example,a usage pattern may indicate that a user has made many work-relatedphone calls during a holiday (such as by determining that the user waslocated at work and making calls all day). Such a user may be presentedpreferably with content that is related to a vacation, such as showinghotels, rental cars, or flight promotions in an implicit query 164, orpreferentially presenting such items in response to explicit queries(including disambiguating partial queries or ambiguous queries). Forexample, such a user might receive hotel information in response toentering the partial query “hot,” while another user receives weatherinformation. In one such embodiment the search function 142 is adaptedbased on phone usage. The phone usage-adapted search function 142 may bean implicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on deviceand/or subscriber unique identifiers. The identifier-adapted searchfunction 142 may be an implicit query 164, an active query, adisambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filtering function, apresentation function, a routing function, or another function or actionrelating to the initiation, processing, or completion of a search. Here,as with usage-pattern-adapted search functions 142, the identifier maybe used to identify the user in the search facility 142, allowingtargeted queries, disambiguation, and results.

A wireless search platform 100 may be used to provide information tousers who present a direct identifier to the wireless search platform100. A method of providing mobile content relating to direct identifiersmay include a user controlling a mobile communication facility 102 toreceive input of a direct identifier, and using the direct identifierinput to receive mobile content, or information relating to mobilecontent, for display on the user's mobile communication facility 102.

A direct identifier to be acquired by the mobile communication facility102 may take one or more of several formats and embodiments. The directidentifier may be a barcode such as a two-dimensional code, a 3-D code(e.g. a “bumpy” code), a 3-DI code (e.g. a circular 3-DI code). Thebarcode may be selected from a group including an array tag, an Azteccode, a small Aztec code, a codablock, a Code 1 code, a Code 16K code, aCode 49 code, a CP Code code, a DataGlyph code, a Data Matrix code, aDatastrip Code code, a Dot Code A code, a hueCode code, a Intacta.Codecode, a MaxiCode code, a MiniCode code, a PDF 417 code, a Micro PDF 417code, a QR code, a SmartCode code, a Snowflack Code code, a SuperCodecode, an Ultracode code, a multicolor code, a Quick Response code, or aUPC code.

Alternatively the direct identifier may be an RFID. The RFID may includeformats such as EPC Gen 2, EPC Class 0+, EPC Class 1, UCODE EPC 1.19,ISO 18000-6b, I-CODE1, I-CODE SLI, My-d (HF), ISO 15693, Picotag,Tag-It, Tag-it HF, Tagsys, EPC (HF), and Tag-it HF-I. Other formats andembodiments of barcodes and RFID tags may exist and may be possible,including custom formats and embodiments. The formats and embodimentsherein disclosed are meant to be representative, and therefore suchother formats and embodiments are herein incorporated.

A mobile communication facility 102 may be a phone such as a mobilephone, a cellular phone, or a GSM phone, or other mobile communicationdevice 102 described herein. The mobile communication facility 102 maybe used to acquire a direct identifier.

The direct identifier may be acquired in various ways. The user of amobile communication facility 102 may enter text representing a directidentifier through a user interface of the mobile communication facility102. The user may alternatively audibly enter (such as speaking) thecharacters and/or numbers representing the direct identifier into amicrophone of the mobile communication facility 102. The user may enterthe full text, characters and/or numbers of the direct identifier, or aportion thereof, such as a visible portion.

The mobile communication facility 102 may include a camera, such as acamera phone described herein. The user may employ a direct identifierentry application running on the mobile communication facility 102 touse the phone's camera to capture an image of the direct identifier.

Alternatively, the image of the direct identifier may be received by themobile communication facility 102 through the wireless communicationfacility 104. Examples in which the mobile communication facility 102may receive an image including a direct identifier include an EMSpicture message, a picture ID, a video message, or a video call.Alternatively the image of the direct identifier may be input throughany appropriate port on the mobile communication device 102 as hereindescribed including a memory expansion slot, an infrared port, or a USBport, and through PictBridge. Other sources from which the mobilecommunication facility 102 may receive an image of the direct identifierinclude the mobile service provider 108 (through the wirelesscommunication facility 104), a mobile subscriber characteristicsdatabase 112, and a mobile search host facilities 114, or throughstreaming multimedia such as from the internet. The direct identifiermay be newly acquired or may be retrieved from a memory, such as a harddrive of the mobile communication facility 102.

The mobile communication facility 102 may be equipped with a barcodescanner, a 2D code or 3D code scanner, or an RFID scanner. The user ofthe mobile communication facility 102 may use a scanner as describedherein to acquire the direct identifier.

Alternatively, a camera or any scanner may be remotely connected to themobile communication facility 102 for purposes of acquiring the directidentifier and transferring it to the mobile communication facility 102.

The mobile communication facility 102 may decode the direct identifieror may transmit the direct identifier (or an image containing the directidentifier) to a server 134, a mobile search host facility 114, awireless provider 108, and the like to be decoded. The direct identifiermay be partially or fully decoded to determine a sufficient amount ofinformation about the direct identifier's subject to direct mobilecontent or information related to mobile content to the mobilecommunication device 102 user interface display. The mobilecommunication facility 102 may decode a portion of the direct identifierand transmit the portion, or the portion and the direct identifier, orthe portion and the image containing the direct identifier.

The direct identifier may include primary source information related tothe direct identifier's subject. The primary source information mayinclude, without limitation, a product name, a model number, a serialnumber, a manufacturer's name, an owner's name, a band name, a sportingevent, a public event title, a date, a location, an invitation code, amovie title, a URL, and the like. The primary source information may beabbreviated, condensed, compressed, or encoded.

The direct identifier may also include secondary source informationrelated to the direct identifier's subject. The secondary sourceinformation may include a product category, a product price range, or alist of products related to the direct identifier's subject, an openingact, a venue, a list of music titles, and the like. The relation may bebased on a category, on price, on consumer purchase data, a music genre,and the like.

The direct identifier's primary and/or secondary source information maybe used to receive further information related to the directidentifier's subject. This may be desirable, or it may be necessary ifthe direct identifier's primary and/or secondary source information isinsufficient for comparing it to information relating to mobile content.The information relating to the direct identifier's subject may includemobile web sites containing information relating to one or more of thefollowing: a product description, a product review, an inventory atcurrent location, a price at current location, a price at an onlinelocation, a price at a local offline location, an inventory at an onlinelocation, or an inventory at a local offline location, a public event, aprivate event, a celebrity, a political party, a law, and the like.

The direct identifier's primary and/or secondary source and/or relatedinformation may be compared to information related to mobile content.The comparison may occur in the mobile communication facility 102, or itmay occur in a server 134, or mobile search host facility 114. Thecomparison may result in a match of the information compared. Theinformation may match exactly, or partially, or a portion of theinformation may match exactly or partially.

The information related to mobile content may be stored on the mobilecommunication facility 102 or may be downloaded dynamically based onmobile communication facility 102 characteristics, user characteristics,location, current events, and recent comparison activity of other users.As an example, a first user carrying a mobile communication facility 102may be in close proximity to a train station. Other users of thewireless communication facility 104, or the server 134, or the mobilesearch host facilities 114 associated with the first user, may haverecently acquired and compared direct identifiers posted in the trainstation. The information related to mobile content matching theinformation related to the direct identifiers acquired by the otherusers may be downloaded to the first user's mobile communicationfacility 102. Therefore, if the first user acquires the same directidentifier as the other uses, the matching information will be availableon the first user's mobile communication facility 102, thereby speedingup the first user's access to the information. This may also reduce theinstantaneous demand for download bandwidth of the wirelesscommunication facility 104 at the time of acquiring the directidentifier.

The information related to mobile content may be directed from a mobileweb site or may be a summary, a list of keywords, a result of a searchquery of the information related to the direct identifier's subject,content walled garden information 132, a list of products with at leastone similar feature, a list of compatible products or services, and thelike. As an example, a user may acquire a direct identifier for a PlasmaTV. The comparison of the direct identifier related information mayresult in the manufacturer's webpage for the Plasma TV being display onthe mobile communication device 102 display. However, the comparison mayresult in a presentation of related products such as different models ofthe Plasma TV, accessories such as surround sound systems, extendedwarranty offers, entertainment center furniture, TV wall mounts, reviewsof the Plasma TV, white papers on Plasma TV technology, and the like.

The selection of mobile content related information to present to theuser may be based, at least in part on a relevance to the informationrelating to the direct identifier's subject. As an example, directidentifier related information may be a manufacturer's name such asChrysler. This may result in presenting information related to mobilecontent that shares the manufacturer name Chrysler. In another example,information related to a direct identifier's subject may include aproduct such as a beach chair and a consumer price for the beach chair.In this example, the information relating to mobile content presented tothe user may include alternate beach chairs at a comparable consumerprices, or alternate local sources of the beach chair, or a combinationthereof. In another example, the information related to a directidentifier's subject may be matched to a yellow pages category andinformation relating to mobile content of other products listed in theyellow pages category may be presented to the user. Another example hasa user at a retail electronics store. The user acquires a directidentifier of a portable DVD player and the user is presented withproduct reviews of the DVD player.

In addition to the user being presented with information related tomobile content, the user may be presented with mobile content. Themobile content may be an advertisement, a sponsored link, a sponsoredcall, downloadable content, an audio stream, a video, or a graphicelement. In an example, a user may acquire a direct identifier whosesubject is a country and western band. The user may be presented with aphone number for ordering tickets to the band's upcoming concert tour.Alternatively, the user may receive a call with further informationabout the direct identifier's subject. The call may provide automatedinformation, allow interaction with an automated information system, ormay be an operator with information related to the band.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on contentviewing history. The viewing-history-adapted search function 142 may bean implicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search. Viewing history maybe obtained by a local facility on the mobile communication facility102, such as a database or cache on a cellular phone, or it may beobtained at a central facility, such as an Internet server, or a centraloffice for phone services. Such data may be retrieved, for example, froma database of mobile subscriber characteristics 112. Viewing history maybe analyzed, in embodiments, by an algorithm facility 144, such as toinfer behavior based on content viewing patterns. In embodiments viewinghistory may include content viewed using a mobile communication facility102. In other embodiments viewing history may include history withrespect to other content provided by the same entity that is thewireless provider 108. For example, such a provider may providetelevision content via DSL or cable, Internet content to a home, orother content. Viewing histories for all such content may be analyzed toassist with improving search function 142 s, including assisting withdevelopment of implicit queries, resolving ambiguities with explicitqueries, and retrieving, sorting, filtering, presenting, and routingsearch results. For example, if a database of mobile subscribercharacteristics 112 shows that a particular viewer watched the first sixepisodes of “24” but missed the seventh episode, then a search for theelement “24” may retrieve online sources for the seventh episode, whileanother user entering a similar query might receive general informationabout the show or information about 24-hour fitness centers. Viewinghistory should be understood to encompass all types of interactions withcontent, such as downloading, listening, clicking through, sampling orthe like, including all types of content, such as text, data, music,audio, sound files, video, broadcast content, and the like.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on contentpresented for viewed by/not viewed by user. The declined-content-adaptedsearch function 142 may be an implicit query 164, an active query, adisambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filtering function, apresentation function, a routing function, or another function or actionrelating to the initiation, processing, or completion of a search.Information about declined content may be obtained from a database ofmobile subscriber characteristics 112, such as that maintained by awireless provider 108, which may also be a provider of various othercontent sources that have been presented and declined (such as byexplicitly declining an option to view content or by implicitlydeclining—ignoring—the content, such as upon repeated opportunities toview it). Wireless providers 108 frequently have access to such viewinghistories, because the same carriers also provide television, Internet,and other content sources. Declined content can be analyzed, with analgorithm facility 144, to assist with forming implicit queries,resolving explicit queries, and with retrieving, sorting, filtering,presenting, and routing results. For example, if a user has consistentlydeclined, or failed to view, music-oriented programming content (whetheron a cellular phone, TV, or Internet), then a query for the term “U2”might return information on Soviet-era spy planes, notwithstanding thatfor other users such a query would return content related to the rockgroup U2. As in analysis of usage patterns, a wide range of algorithms,including learning algorithms, regression analyses, neural nets, and thelike may be used to understand patterns in declined content that assistwith handling queries and results.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on contentand programs downloaded. The download-history-adapted search function142 may be an implicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguationaction, a retrieval function, a filtering function, a presentationfunction, a routing function, or another function or action relating tothe initiation, processing, or completion of a search. Downloadedcontent and programs may be determined from a database of mobilesubscriber characteristics 112, such as based on cellular phone usage,television viewing, Internet usage, email usage or the like. Suchcontent and programs may be analyzed and used in the manner describedabove for usage pattern-adapted search functions 142. In one suchembodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on videos, music,and audio listened to and/or downloaded. Again, thecontent-action-adapted search function 142 may be an implicit query 164,an active query, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, afiltering function, a presentation function, a routing function, oranother function or action relating to the initiation, processing, orcompletion of a search. In another such embodiment the search function142 is adapted based on television watched. The televisionviewing-adapted search function 142 may be an implicit query 164, anactive query, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filteringfunction, a presentation function, a routing function, or anotherfunction or action relating to the initiation, processing, or completionof a search. In another such embodiment the search function 142 isadapted based on television subscriptions. The subscription-adaptedsearch function 142 may be an implicit query 164, an active query, adisambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filtering function, apresentation function, a routing function, or another function or actionrelating to the initiation, processing, or completion of a search. Inone such embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on timingand duration of viewing/downloading. The view/download timing- andduration-adapted search function 142 may be an implicit query 164, anactive query, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filteringfunction, a presentation function, a routing function, or anotherfunction or action relating to the initiation, processing, or completionof a search.

In embodiments, the search facility 142 may be a high-volume, scalable,redundant search engine specifically tuned for mobile content. Theengine may be implemented in Java and deployed in a two-tierarchitecture in which the presentation logic runs on web servers whichformat the results returned by passing the actual search requests off tosearch servers. Search servers may use proprietary algorithms that blendresults from full-text metadata indices with results from 3rd-party(partner) APIs. The search engine may be accessed via a query API. Aquery is a set of words, possibly restricted to specific fields, coupledwith restrictions on content type, category, and format.

In embodiments, the search facility 142 may use a ranking algorithmwhich incorporates a number of features, including one or more offull-text relevance (using, e.g., term frequency/inverse documentfrequency or “TFIDF”, or variants and enhancements thereto), word orderand proximity scores, number of words matching scores (with thresholds),popularity (overall and within-demographic), editorial boosts, andfield-by-field boosts. The wireless provider 108 may control theeditorial boosts.

In embodiments, the search facility 142 may be optimized for mobileinput methods by using, for example, partial word matching, suggestions,and mobile communication facility 102 compatibility. Partial wordmatching coupled with popularity scoring may provide the best possibleresults for the user. Partial word matching may also work for multipleword phrases. Thus, a search for “ro st” may suggest results matching“Rolling Stones”. A suggestion is a recommended search string. Forexample, for the query string “piz” a suggestion could be “pizza”.Suggestions may permit users to enter the wanted search terms with thefewest number of characters. Suggestions may be provided by the engineand cached locally for performance enhancement.

In embodiments, the mobile communication facility 102 may customize thesearch engine results to the capabilities of the mobile communicationfacility 102. For example, the search engine may not present searchresults that are inappropriate for the device (e.g., a ringtone that isincompatible). When compatibility information cannot be determined,results that require particular hardware or software may receive lowerrankings or scores. The recommendation engine may also, or instead, usethe device type as one of the attributes when calculatingrecommendations.

In embodiments, content may be segregated such that the search facility142 may take contextual queues based on where the user enters the searchexperience. For example, users entering search from the ringtone areamay receive ringtone-restricted results. In addition, the wirelessprovider 108 may have multiple content partners and may wish to restrictthe search to certain content partners in certain situations. Forexample, the wireless provider 108 may wish to provide a search box inan entertainment section which only searches content from a specificpartner, where a search box in the travel section would search differentcontent. The search facility 142 may limit results to a specific partneror set of partners.

In embodiments, discovery services may be provided to end users in orderto build a content index. This index may be populated by means of anexplicit data feed of content elements or by spidering a Web or WAP sitecontaining the metadata about the content. A data feed may be providedwith a regularly scheduled transfer of data from the wireless provider108. Feeds may consist of content, taxonomy, and transaction historydata. Content may include one record per item including metadata abouthandset compatibility, previews, price, artists, size, purchaselocation, etc. Taxonomy may include a description of the categorizationsystem used for the data elements. (Sometimes content and taxonomy datamay be distributed separately; sometimes they may be intermingled intoone data file.) Transaction History may include the data associating aunique subscriber with the content elements he or she has interactedwith. The content and taxonomy feeds may be processed to extract themetadata associated with each element. From this metadata a search indexmay be built. Data Feeds may be scheduled to run at predefined times ormay be triggered upon request. If the wireless provider 108 suppliescontent in multiple languages each collection of language-specificcontent may be set up as a separate data feed. A content data feed maybe a single XML or CSV file containing one record per item.

In embodiments, for carriers that create an editorial categorization ofitems, a content data feed may be blended with a taxonomy data feed. Ataxonomy data feed may describe the specific taxonomy of the wirelessprovider 108 content For example, the ring tone for Britney Spears'“Oops, I did it again” might exist in the “Pop” and “Female Vocalists”categories. A taxonomy feed may consist of a single XML or CSV file.

The wireless search platform 100 may be associated with a method forindexing mobile content. In this context, mobile content may refer toany content that may be delivered to, presented by, and/or adapted to bepresented to the mobile communications facility 102. This mobile contentmay include any of the content described herein and/or in the documentsreferenced herein. Without limitation, this mobile content may comprisethe walled garden content 132, content provided by the additional orremote server 132 and/or its database 138, content from and/or stored inthe wireless provider data facility 124 (also referred to herein as“another data facility 124”), and so forth. In embodiments, a result ofthe method of indexing mobile content is an index of mobile contentwherein the mobile content is associated with a mobile communicationfacility compatibility indication. The compatibility indication may bean indication of the compatibility of the content with a particularmobile communication facility, type of mobile communication facility,manufacturer of a mobile communication facility, operating system, audiosystem, display system, video system, text reproduction system or otherparameter as indicated herein.

The mobile content may, from the perspective of the wireless searchplatform 100, originate from a webpage. In this disclosure, the termwebpage should be interpreted as broadly as possible, to include allinstances, formats, types, and variants of data. Thus, a webpage may,for example and without limitation, comprise an HTML or DHTML file; aresult provided to a computing device by a Web service, such as via SOAPor RPC-XML; information received via an RSS feed; data received via ane-mail protocol such as IMAP, POP3, or SMTP; content received via apeer-to-peer information sharing facility; an SMS message; a table in arelational database, or an entry therein; any information that may bereceived by, produced by, presented by, and/or adapted to be presentedby the mobile communications facility 102; and so forth. A webpageidentifier may identify the webpage. For example and without limitation,this identifier may be a name; a URL; a URI; a DOI; a permalink; amessage identifier; a unique identifier; a globally unique identifier; atemporary identifier; a persistent identifier; and the like

The first step in the method for indexing mobile content may comprisefinding a webpage that contains the content. The finding process may beperformed once, periodically, from time to time, in response to a manualinput, automatically, and so forth. In embodiments, an instance of theadditional or remote server 134 may provide the finding process and/orthe webpage. Generally, any computing facility associated with thewireless search platform 100 may provide the finding process and/or thewebpage. In cases where the finding process involves a manual input, theprovider of the finding process may both have a human user and provide auser interface to the user, wherein this user provides the manual inputvia this user interface. In embodiments, an end result of finding thewebpage may be receiving one or more webpage identifiers at the providerof the finding process.

In embodiments, the finding process may comprise spidering. Anautonomous agent or software agent may provide the spidering. This agentmay be a web crawler, a web spider, an ant, and the like. For example,spidering may begin with the agent retrieving a webpage at a known URL.That webpage may contain hyperlinks or reference to other webpages.Spidering may continue with the agent retrieving the other webpages,which may also contain hyperlinks or references to other webpages.Spidering may continue with the agent retrieving those webpages maylikewise be processed by the agent. Many other examples and embodimentsof spidering will be appreciated from this disclosure and such examplesand embodiments are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

In embodiments, the finding process may include processing gateway data(e.g. WAP gateway data, mobile server gateway data, server gateway data,wireless provider gateway data). Gateway data may be associated with aWAP gateway, or other such facility, the wireless communication facility104, the additional or remote server 134, or any other server orfacility associated with the wireless search platform 100. The gatewaydata may include any message that is communicated between the mobilecommunication facility 102 and a facility, server, or data source,wherein during the communication the message is converted between a WAPdata format and an HTTP data format, for example. The gateway data mayalso include any data associated with a WAP gateway. Such data maywithout limitation be associated with a configuration, an uptime, acapability, a network, a protocol, the wireless provider 108, thewireless communication facility 104, the mobile communication facility102, the mobile search host facility 114, the additional or remoteserver 134, and so forth. It should be appreciated that some or all ofthe information that is received or transmitted by the finding processmay be the WAP gateway data. Thus, finding the webpage that contains thecontent may be achieved by processing the WAP gateway data.

In embodiments, the finding process may comprise self-submission. Aprovider of the webpage may submit an identifier of the webpage to theprovider of the finding process. This self-submission may involve amanual input, with the user of the webpage provider entering a webpageidentifier for the webpage into the provider's user interface.Alternatively, the self-submission may be automatic, with the webpageprovider automatically submitting the webpage identifier to the providerof the finding process. Additionally or alternatively, the provider ofthe webpage may submit a set of identifiers. For example, the set maycomprise a site map, which may include identifiers of a plurality ofwebpages associated with a Web site. The provider of the webpage mayprovide any of these webpages. The set of identifiers may be representedin a flat arrangement; a hierarchical arrangement; a relationalarrangement; an object-relational arrangement; or any other arrangement.Without limitation, the set of identifiers may be embodied as a flatfile, an XML file, or any other file or representation of data. Manyother examples of self-submission will be appreciated.

In certain embodiments of the finding process that includeself-submission, a payment may be associated with providing the webpageidentifier or set of webpage identifiers to the provider of the findingprocess. In particular, an enterprise or business entity that isassociated with the provider of the webpage may provide the payment toan enterprise or business entity that is associated with the provider ofthe finding process. This payment may be a one-time payment to allowunlimited submissions; a one-time payment to allow a certain number ofsubmissions; a per-use payment that occurs each time a submission ismade and that may vary depending upon an aspect of the submission; aperiodic or subscription-oriented payment to allow unlimited submissionduring a limited period of time; a periodic or subscription-orientedpayment to allow a certain number of submissions during a limited periodof time; and so forth. The payment may be optional, required, prepaid,delayed, complete, partial, credited, debited, negotiated, fixed inamount, dynamic in amount, and so forth. In one example, the payment maybe related to a paid inclusion service creates an index of mobilecontent, wherein the mobile content originates from webpages that areidentified in submissions that are associated with a payment.

After the finding process receives the webpage identifier, the findingprocess may note the mobile content originating from the identifiedwebpage. This noting may include determining and storing a URI, a MIMEtype, a file size, a resolution, a fidelity, a compression format, afile format, a digital rights management (DRM) restriction, or any otherfeature or aspect of the mobile content. In embodiments, a result ofthis noting may be a mobile content profile, which is a data elementthat includes indications of these features and aspects.

The mobile content may be a sponsored link, a sponsored call, adownloadable instance of content, an audio stream, a video file, a videostream, a graphic element, a result of a search query, and so forth. Inthe case that the content is the result of a search query, the searchquery may be initiated by the mobile communication facility 102, whichmay without limitation a type of phone, mobile phone, cellular phone,GSM phone, and the like.

The next step in the method for indexing mobile content may comprisedetermining compatibility of the mobile content based upon the type ofthe mobile communication facility 102. Determining compatibility may beprovided by a determining process of the method for indexing mobilecontent. The determining process may be performed when mobile content isfound, in serial with the finding process. In this case, a step in thefinding process may provide to the determining process the mobilecontent profile associated with the mobile content. Alternatively, thedetermining process may be performed from time to time, no sooner thanwhen individual items are found but otherwise in no particular temporalrelation to the finding process. In this case, a step in the findingprocess may place into a queue the mobile content profile associatedwith the mobile content. From this queue, a step in determining processmay retrieve the mobile content profile. In embodiments, an instance ofthe additional or remote server 134 may provide the determining process.Generally, any computing facility associated with the wireless searchplatform 100 may provide the determining process. The computing facility(or additional or remote server 134) that provides the determiningprocess may or may not be the same facility or server 134 that providesthe finding process.

The determining process may compare the mobile content profile tocapabilities and properties associated with the type of mobilecommunication facility 102. These capabilities and properties may berelated to the mobile content profile or to elements thereof. Thecapabilities and properties may be embodied as a data element, which maybe provided by the additional or other server 134; its database 138; thewireless provider data facility 124; the additional data facility 170;the data facility 118; or any other data facility, computing facility,or element of the wireless search platform 100. When comparing themobile content profile to the capabilities and properties, thedetermining process may test to see if all of the capabilities andproperties match the mobile content profile. If the result of this testis negative, the determining process may test to see if there exists amethod for adapting a kind of mobile content that is associated with theprofile into a second kind of mobile content that is associated with asecond profile, wherein the second profile does match all of thecapabilities and properties. If the result of this test is alsonegative, then the determining process may return a negative result.Otherwise, the determining process may return an affirmative result.When applicable, the affirmative result comprises a code or otherindication of the method for adapting the content. In any case, theaffirmative result comprises the mobile content profile. A concrete andtangible result of the determining process is the returned result.

The capabilities and properties that are related to the mobile contentprofile may be associated with a MIME type. The MIME type may conform toRFC 1521, RFC 1522, RFC 1550, RFC 1590, RFC 1847, RFC 2045, RFC 2046,RFC 2049, RFC 2387, RFC 3023, or any subsequent RFC that obsoletes theseRFC, all of which are hereby included by reference. The MIME type mayindicate that the mobile content is comprises any of the past, present,or future IANA registered MIME media types, including those that havebeen requested but not approved, all of which may be described at theWeb site located at http://www.iana.org/assignments/media-types/, thecontent of which is hereby included by reference. In embodiments, theMIME type may indicate a content type of text/vnd.wap.wml or text/HTML.

The capabilities and properties that are related to the mobile contentprofile may be associated with a mobile communication facilityidentifier, such as a browser identification string; a mobile subscribercharacteristic; or user agent string. In embodiments, the user agentstring may be a textual or binary representation of a brand and/or modelidentifier of the mobile communication facility 102; a name and/orversion of an application; a name and/or version of a host operatingsystem; a host operating language; a compatibility flag; a versiontoken; a platform token; and the like.

In embodiments, the browser identification string may identify a Webbrowser or WAP-enabled application in the mobile communication facility102; the mobile subscriber characteristic may be a call history of amobile subscriber who is associated with the mobile communicationfacility 102; the user agent string may identify a user agent (such asan e-mail agent or client) in the mobile communication facility 102; thename and/or version of an application may be those of an application inthe mobile communication facility 102; the name and/or version of a hostoperating system may be those of the operating system in the mobilecommunication facility 102; the compatibility flag, version token, andplatform token may be structural elements of the user agent string.

The capability and properties that are related to the mobile contentprofile may be associated with a browser; an operating system; anelement of usability; and the like.

In embodiments the element of usability may be a mobile contentstandard; support of XHTML; adherence to a metadata guideline (which maybe related to a title, a description, a keyword, and so on); a textemphasis rule (which may be related to a bolded text element, anitalicized text element, an underlined text element, and so on); animage use guideline (which may be an image height, an image width, animage resolution, a number of images within a plurality of images, imageformatting, a sequential image download order of a set of images, and soforth); a page weight rule (which may relate to reducing a total pagesize to ten or fewer kilobytes, reducing table size, reducing text byremoving comments associated with a page, minimizing page formatting byinserting a tab or space or paragraph delimiter, shortening a file name,shortening a CSS class name, shortening a CSS ID name, and so forth);and so on.

The final step in the method for indexing mobile content may compriseproducing an index of the mobile content. Producing the index may beprovided by an index production process of the method for indexingmobile content. The index production process may be performed when thedetermining process returns an affirmative result, in serial with thedetermining process. In this case, a step in the determining process mayprovide to the index production process the affirmative result.Alternatively, the index production process may be performed from timeto time, no sooner than when the determining process returns theaffirmative result but otherwise in no particular temporal relation tothe production process. In this case, a step in the determining processmay place into a queue the affirmative result. From this queue, a stepin index production process may retrieve the affirmative result. Inembodiments, an instance of the additional or remote server 134 mayprovide the index production process. Generally, any computing facilityassociated with the wireless search platform 100 may provide the indexproduction process. The computing facility (or additional or remoteserver 134) that provides the index production process may or may not bethe same facility or server 134 that provides the finding process or thedetermining process.

Based at least in part upon the affirmative result, the index productionprocess may automatically generate an index of the mobile content thatis associated with the mobile content profile of the affirmative resultthat may, for example and without limitation, represent or be associatedwith a hash value, a priority, a relevancy, a market, a categorization,a classification, a rating, a grading, a ranking, a designation, anassessment, an evaluation, an appraisal, a mark, a score, a value, areference, a color, a code, an icon, a position, a preference, asuggestion, a hint, a clue, a cross-reference, an alternate embodimentof the mobile content associated with the mobile content profile, areference to such an embodiment, a reference to a Web service thatprovides such an embodiment, an alternate URI for the URI of the mobilecontent profile, a position in a hierarchy, a hierarchy, a compatibilityflag, a flag, a tag, a keyword, a translation, a transliteration, asynonym, an antonym, a homonym, a measurement, a usage statistic, apopularity, a peer review, a point rating (such as on a ten-pointscale), a star rating (such as on a five-star scale), a value, a futurevalue, a past value, an estimate, a projection, a layman's term, a termof the art, a colloquialism, a preferred name, a nickname, a formalname, a source, a destination, a location, a time, a date, a creator, amodifier, a size, a file size, a resolution, a hue, an color, anintensity, a bit depth, a file type, a protocol, a requirement, an item,an action, a location, a reason, a method, and so forth.

A plurality of indexes may be generated. In some embodiments, theindexes may be ordered based upon the value of the index. In oneexample, the value is a rank and the indexes are ordered based upon therank.

The index of the mobile content may be stored in a database or a datafacility such as and without limitation any of the database or datafacilities associated with the wireless search platform 100. The indexof the mobile content may be stored in a unified or distributed fashion.The index of the mobile content may be replicated, archived, compressed,decompressed, transmitted, received, interpreted, processed, utilized,or otherwise associated with any of the elements of the wireless searchplatform 100. In one example, the index of the mobile content mayrepresent relevant information that is provided to a user of the mobilecommunication facility 102 in response to a query submitted by or onbehalf of this user.

It should be appreciated that numerous embodiments of the process forindexing content are possible. These embodiments without limitationinclude a single instance of a monolithic computer program thatimplements the entire method of indexing mobile content, including allof the processes thereof, multiple instances of the monolithic computerprogram, perhaps arranged in a load-balancing or failover configuration;an instance of each of a number of modular computer programs, whereineach computer program implements some but not all processes but whentaken in the aggregate the computer programs implement all of theprocesses; at least one instance of each of the modular computerprograms, wherein multiple instances of the same program are arranged inload-balancing or failover configuration; an instance of each of themodular computer programs, wherein the instances reside on the samefacility or server 134; an instance of each of the modular computerprograms, wherein some or all of the instances reside on differentfacilities or servers 134; at least one instance of each of the modularcomputer programs, wherein the instances reside on the same facility orserver 134; at least one instance of each of the modular computerprograms, wherein some or all of the instances reside on differentfacilities or servers 134; multiple instances of the monolithic computerprogram that reside on the same facility or server 134; multipleinstances of the monolithic computer program, wherein some or all of theinstances reside on different facilities or server 134; and so forth.

In embodiments web content is presented to mobile communicationfacilities based at least in part on the compatibility of the mobilecontent with the mobile communication facilities. The compatibility maybe determined through an examination of information relating to themobile communication facility (e.g. mobile subscriber characteristics,information stored by the wireless provider, or information storedlocally on the mobile communication facility). Once information relatingto the mobile communication facility is determined a comparison betweenthe information relating to the mobile communication facility and themobile content may be determined. In the event the mobile content isdeemed compatible, the mobile content may be delivered to the mobilecommunication facility. The delivery of the mobile content may be theresult of an auction for the placement of content to the mobilecommunication facility where the advertiser sponsoring the content paysfor delivery of compatible content. This methodology may be used toimprove the projected conversion rate of the mobile content because ofits likely compatibility.

It will be appreciated that the various steps identified and describedabove may be varied, and that the order of steps may be changed to suitparticular applications of the techniques disclosed herein. All suchvariations and modifications are intended to fall within the scope ofthis disclosure. As such, the depiction and/or description of an orderfor various steps should not be understood to require a particular orderof execution for those steps, unless required by a particularapplication, or explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the context.

In embodiments, the transaction history data may enumerate specificbehavior for specific users. This may be used to compute popularityinformation and be used as an input to the recommendation engine. Thisdata feed may be used whether or not the content index is built viaregular data feeds or by spidering. A common format for this informationis the Apache Log Format.

In embodiments, full-text relevance may compute a TFIDF metric in whichthe frequency of words within the overall item set influences therelevancy score. In embodiments, “stop words” may be used to improvesearch result relevancy. Stop Words may be words which do not contributeto the overall ranking of a document and are not searched, or not usedin query formulation. The search facility 142 that does not use stopwords explicitly may nonetheless specify certain words that influencerelevance less than others. In embodiments, the search facility 142 mayuse query analysis to identify specific verticals with specific queriesin certain contexts. Thus, it may be possible for a search for “icecream” to prefer local listing results to general web pages.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on servicespurchased from a carrier (e.g., phone lines, television packages,wireless services, DSL, cable services, broadband services, dataservices, and other services). The carrier-services-adapted searchfunction 142 may be an implicit query 164, an active query, adisambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filtering function, apresentation function, a routing function, or another function or actionrelating to the initiation, processing, or completion of a search. Suchinformation may be retrieved from a database of mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, such as that stored by a wireless provider 108 whomay also be a provider of various other services. The other services maybe analyzed, such as by an algorithm facility 144, to infer informationabout a user's intent when executing a search function 142, includingfor presenting implicit queries, resolving ambiguous queries, orretrieving, sorting, filtering, presenting, or routing results. Forexample, if a user has DSL, has purchased a premium sports televisionpackage, and has bookmarked sports-related sites, then the user may bepresented with implicit queries that retrieve sports results for thatday. Similarly, upon entering “Jason”, such a user might receive resultson the Red Sox or Jason Varitek, while another user might receiveinformation about the Friday the 13th series of movies, or the JASONfoundation. Again, the algorithm facility 144 may use a wide range oftechniques, including simple category-based inferences, learningalgorithms, neural nets, regression analysis and other statisticaltechniques, or the like to draw inferences about how purchasing variousservices relates to query formation. Such techniques may includecollaborative filtering techniques (as described elsewhere herein and inthe documents incorporated by reference herein) for determining how auser's preferences align with other users having similarcharacteristics.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based ontransaction history. The transaction history-adapted search function 142may be an implicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action,a retrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on history ofphone calls made using, for example, the telephone numbers or identitiesof called parties, or portions of telephone numbers such as area codesor exchanges. The call history-adapted search function 142 may be animplicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on phonecalls received using, for example, the telephone numbers or identitiesof called parties, or portions of telephone numbers such as area codesor exchanges. The calls-received-adapted search function 142 may be animplicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on the mobilesubscriber characteristics 112 of the persons calling, or called by, theuser. This may include, for example, usage patterns, usage plans, mobiledevice type, firmware, capabilities, and so forth, as well asdemographic and other information concerning the parties, to the extentthat it is available, and as described generally above. Thecharacteristic-adapted search function 142 may be an implicit query 164,an active query, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, afiltering function, a presentation function, a routing function, oranother function or action relating to the initiation, processing, orcompletion of a search.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on theduration of calls. The call-duration-adapted search function 142 may bean implicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on a historyof communications made via phone. The communications-history-adaptedsearch function 142 may be an implicit query 164, an active query, adisambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filtering function, apresentation function, a routing function, or another function or actionrelating to the initiation, processing, or completion of a search.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on Internetusage. This may include, for example, histories of URLs or specific IPaddresses, as well as topical or semantic information concerning same.The Internet-usage-adapted search function 142 may be an implicit query164, an active query, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, afiltering function, a presentation function, a routing function, oranother function or action relating to the initiation, processing, orcompletion of a search.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on emailusage. The email usage-adapted search function 142 may be an implicitquery 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, a retrievalfunction, a filtering function, a presentation function, a routingfunction, or another function or action relating to the initiation,processing, or completion of a search.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on instantmessaging. This adaptation (and other adaptations discussed herein) maybe based on such usage specific to a particular device, a particulartime of day, a particular day of the week, a particular season, or thelike, or may be based on all traffic associated with the user,regardless of other factors. The IM-usage-adapted search function 142may be an implicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action,a retrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on chat (andthe entities communicated with by these technologies). The chatusage-adapted search function 142 may be an implicit query 164, anactive query, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, a filteringfunction, a presentation function, a routing function, or anotherfunction or action relating to the initiation, processing, or completionof a search.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on history ofphone calls made linked with geographic/location information at the timeof each call. The location- and call history-adapted search function 142may be an implicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action,a retrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on log ofphone numbers. The phone number log-adapted search function 142 may bean implicit query 164, an active query, a disambiguation action, aretrieval function, a filtering function, a presentation function, arouting function, or another function or action relating to theinitiation, processing, or completion of a search.

In one embodiment the search function 142 is adapted based on history ofclicks and clickthroughs (or other keystroke or user interfaceequivalents thereof, including voice-initiated actions). Theuser-action-history adapted search function 142 may be an implicit query164, an active query, a disambiguation action, a retrieval function, afiltering function, a presentation function, a routing function, oranother function or action relating to the initiation, processing, orcompletion of a search.

FIG. 6 illustrates a mobile communication search facility 142 accordingto the principles of the present invention. In this embodiment, thewireless provider 108 facilitates voice access from the mobilecommunication facility 102 through a voice gateway 602. The voicegateway 602 may be a telecommunication router for example. Informationpertaining to what voice calls have been made or received by the mobilecommunication facility 102 may be stored in access information database608. Once the voice access information is stored in the informationdatabase 608, the information may be retrieved by the personal filter644, and the personal filter 644 may also process the voice activationinformation to gain more information about the access. For example, thepersonal filter 644 may perform a reverse phone number process on callsreceived by or made from the mobile communication facility 102 todetermine information about the establishments and individuals called.Such information may also be matched with the time of day the call wasmade, the duration of the call, who initiated the call, etc. Theinformation relating to voice calls may be further processed orinferences may be made from the information indicating user preferences.For example, if the user is making calls most days at lunch time to takeout restaurants, one may infer that the user is going to make more callsto take out places for lunch. Likewise, if the user has made ten phonecalls to different new car dealers in the past two weeks, an inferencemay be made that the user is in the market for a car. The informationmay also be used in connection with a collaborative style filter (aprocess the personal filter 644) to predict future behavior or likes anddislikes based on other people's similar behaviors.

Access information may also be collected based on internet activitiesthrough an internet gateway 604. Search queries, click throughs, and thelike may be tracked and stored in access database 608 for retrieval fromthe personal filter 644. As with the voice information, the webinteraction data may be manipulated, and predictions of future behavior,likes, and dislikes may be made. In the monitoring of internet behavior,in garden and out of garden activities may be tracked.

Location information and time of day information may also be tracked andstored in a location information database 612. As with the voiceinformation and the web interaction information, the location and timeof day information may also be used by the personal filter 644.

User information 112, such as personal information or information usedto set up the user account with the wireless provider 108, may be keptin a database that is accessible by the personal filter 644.

The personal filter 644 may receive a search query from a mobilecommunication facility 102, extract information from each of thedatabases 612, 112, and 608, process all of the information through anoptimization algorithm, and perform an optimized search for results.Likewise, results may be obtained, and the personal filter 644 may beused to process the results, along with the other mobile communicationrelated information, and produce filtered results to the mobilecommunication facility 102.

While the databases 612, 112, and 608 are illustrated as separatedatabases, it should be understood that these may be combined into oneor more databases, such as a relational database. While the personalfilter 644 is illustrated as residing in the wireless provider 108domain, it should be understood that the personal filter 644 may resideelsewhere, including on the mobile communication facility 102 or inanother related facility.

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate various form factors of mobile communicationfacilities that may be used with the systems described herein. FIG. 7Aillustrates a candy bar or open faced fixed cell phone. FIG. 7Billustrates a flip phone and FIG. 7C illustrates a slide phone.

FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate various form factors of mobile communicationfacilities that may be used with the systems described herein. FIG. 8Aillustrates a PDA phone with a touch screen and a full QWERTY keyboard.FIG. 8B illustrates a PDA phone with a two-letter-per-key keypad. FIG.8C illustrates a slide-up phone revealing the keypad.

FIGS. 9A-9D illustrate a progression of user interface screens 400associated with a search on a mobile communication device 102. The userinterface screens may be generated by the client application interfacedescribed above. Beginning with screen shot 9A, a query entry facility120 is provided. The screen may be labeled with a logo 902 and asuggestion box 908 may be provided. As an example based upon thisinterface, an abbreviated search query “Br Sp” may be typed into thesearch query entry facility 120. A disambiguation facility 140 (notshown in this figure) may operate in conjunction with a personal filter644 (not shown in this figure) to disambiguate the partially enteredterms. In addition, a suggestion facility may be operational (not shownin this figure) such that suggestions to the partially entered searchquery are presented in the search box 908. In the event that the firstpage of suggestions does not include the desired search query, moreresults may be displayed by activating the down arrow 924. A navigationfacility 910 may be provided (e.g. A multi-directional joystick stylekeypad on the face of the mobile communication facility 102, a touchscreen, keypad, or the like). The navigation facility 910 may be used(shown in the down position as indicated by the darkened arrow) tohighlight “Britney Spears.” Once “Britney Spears” is highlighted 910,the navigation facility 912 may be used to select (as indicated by thedarkened center square) and expand the category (as indicated by thedarkened right side arrow). Once the suggestion “Britney Spears” isselected and expanded, categories of search results 914 may bepresented.

In embodiments, a user of a wireless search platform 100 may enter aquery into a mobile communication facility 102. As the user is enteringa query, or upon submission of the query, a method of the wirelesssearch platform 100 may process the portion of the query that the mobilecommunication facility 102 has received. This processing may determinethat the query is not a fully formed query. Based upon this processing,the wireless search platform 100 may generate a list of search queriesthat contain the partially formed query. These generated search queriesmay be ordered in a list according to at least one factor, such as arelevancy score or some other value. Then, the list may be presented tothe user as a list of search terms, one of which the user may choose inlieu of entering the rest of the query.

The ordering of the generated search queries may be based at least inpart on information relating to the mobile communication facility 102.The information relating to a mobile communication facility 102 may be auser characteristic selected from the group consisting of age, sex,race, religion, area code, zip code, home address, work address, billingaddress, credit information, family information, income information,birth date, birthplace, employer, job title, length of employment, andthe like. Alternatively or additionally, the information may be a userhistory, a user transaction, a geographic location, a user device, atime, a mobile communication facility characteristic, provided by awireless operator, provided by a wireless service provider, provided bya telecommunications service provider. The mobile communication facilitycharacteristic may be selected from the group consisting of displaycapability, display size, display resolution, processing speed, audiocapability, video capability, cache size, storage capability, memorycapacity, and the like.

In one example, a user wishes to locate a French restaurant. The usermay enter the letters “F,” “r,” “e,” into the query entry field of themobile communications facility 102. Before he has a chance to enter moreletters, the wireless search platform 100 may process the letters (apartially formed query) and produce a list of complete search terms,which may be alphabetized (i.e., ordered based upon a factor). Thesystem may then present the list of complete search terms to the user.For the purposes of illustration and not limitation, this list is:“French Market,” “French Restaurant,” “French Wine.” Instead ofcompleting the query in a letter-by-letter fashion, the user may select“French Restaurant” from the list. Many other examples and embodimentsof the method and system of presenting an ordered list of suggestedsearch queries will be appreciated from this disclosure and suchexamples and embodiments are intended to be encompassed by the presentinvention.

The wireless search platform 100 may be associated with a method forreceiving a partial search query from a mobile communications facility102 and creating an ordered list of complete search terms and presentingthis list to a user for selection. Complete search terms may be anyterms that can be delivered to, presented by, and/or adapted to bepresented to the mobile communications facility 102. These search termsmay include any of the search terms described herein and/or in thedocuments referenced herein.

The search queries may be associated with a query entry field, such asand without limitation a name field, an address field, a date field, aproduct name field, a product number field, a numeric field, a voicerecognition field, a biometric field, a graphics field, and so forth.Presenting complete search terms to the mobile communication facility102 may be associated with the query entry field. For example andwithout limitation, if the user is entering a query into an addressfield, a drop-down list that is visually and functionally associatedwith the address filed may display the list of completed search terms.

In embodiments, the user may provide a query entry as a textual stringvia the query entry system 120 (which may be the query entry field) ofthe mobile communication facility 102. While the user is providing aquery entry, that portion of the query entry that has been provided tothe wireless communication facility 102 may be referred to as asubstring query entry. Eventually, the user may finish entering thequery, at which point the substring query entry and the query entry arethe same thing. The substring query entry may be the search query thatis incomplete or not fully formed.

In embodiments, a user may enter the query entry vocally via the voiceentry system 122. In this case, the “substring query entry” will beunderstood to be that portion of the verbal query that has been receivedby the voice entry system 122.

In embodiments, the user may provide the query entry as a barcode,image, scanned value, or any other input that may be received by thequery entry system 120. In this case, a query may comprise one or morebarcodes, one or more images, one or more scanned values, and/or one ormore other values. As the query entry is being provided, the query entrysystem 120 receives a sequence of barcodes, images, scanned values, andother values. In this case, the “substring query entry” will beunderstood to be those things that have been received by the query entrysystem 120.

The search query may derive from a browser based (WAP) interaction or aclient application based interaction. The client application basedinteraction may be a BREW application or a Java application.

The mobile communications facility 102 may comprise a phone, a mobilephone, a cellular phone, a GSM phone, and so forth. The informationrelating to a mobile communication facility 102 may be provided by awireless operator, a wireless service provider 108, a telecommunicationsservice provider, and the like

It will be appreciated that the various steps identified and describedabove may be varied, and that the order of steps may be changed to suitparticular applications of the techniques disclosed herein. All suchvariations and modifications are intended to fall within the scope ofthis disclosure. As such, the depiction and/or description of an orderfor various steps should not be understood to require a particular orderof execution for those steps, unless required by a particularapplication, or explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the context.

In embodiments, a method or system of the wireless search platform 100may access the mobile search suggestion dictionary as the user of thewireless communication facility 102 provides the query. Here, accessingthe mobile search suggestion dictionary is directed at creating a listof expect search queries associated with the query entry, which may beprovided to the wireless search platform 100 via a client applicationrunning on the mobile communication facility 102 that is associated withthe query entry system 120. The client application may include a searchapplication, a location-based search application, a WAP application, amobile application, or any other application associated with the mobilecommunication facility 102. In other embodiments, a method of thewireless search platform 100 may access the mobile search suggestiondictionary when the user has finished providing the query. In any case,the method or system receives an expected search query from the mobilesearch suggestion dictionary. This may take into account not just thequery entry, but also a factor associated with that entry. Inembodiments, this may be a search vertical, which may be aclassification within a taxonomy of content. The factor may be a time,date, location, or any other temporal, geographic, physical, orconceptual context, an information relating to a mobile communicationfacility, a user characteristic, a user history, a user transaction, auser device, and or a mobile communication facility characteristic. Bytaking the factor(s) into account, the method or system may extractexpected search queries from the mobile search suggestion dictionarythat are associated with both the factor(s) and the mobile contentrelating to the query entry. This, in turn, yields suggested searchqueries that are associated with the same context as the substring queryentry that the user is providing.

The search vertical may be associated with a taxonomy of content and maybe a general search or related to a search, ringtones, images, games,yellow pages, weather, white pages, news headlines, WAP sites, websites, movie show times, sports scores, stock quotes, flight times,maps, directions, a price comparison, WiFi hotspots, package tracking,hotel rates, fantasy sports stats, horoscopes, answers, a dictionary,area codes, zip codes, entertainment, blogs, and so forth.

The ordering of the list of expected search queries may be based on afactor, such as a search query popularity or information relating to amobile communication facility 102.

The information relating to a mobile communication facility 102 may be auser characteristic selected from the group consisting of age, sex,race, religion, area code, zip code, home address, work address, billingaddress, credit information, family information, income information,birth date, birthplace, employer, job title, length of employment, andthe like. Alternatively or additionally, the information may be a userhistory, a user transaction, a geographic location, a user device, atime, a mobile communication facility characteristic, provided by awireless operator, provided by a wireless service provider, provided bya telecommunications service provider. The mobile communication facilitycharacteristic may be selected from the group consisting of displaycapability, display size, display resolution, processing speed, audiocapability, video capability, cache size, storage capability, memorycapacity, and the like.

The suggested search query may be associated with a human language; maybe associated with a handset; may be associated with an input box; maybe associated with a mobile communication facility type; may be a WAPquery; a Java letter sequence; a BREW letter sequence; and so forth. Thehuman language may, without limitation, be English, Spanish, German,French, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Hindi, Urdu,and so forth. The input box may, without limitation, be an address box,a name box, an email box, a text box, a numeric box, an alphanumericbox, a search engine, a song name box.

The mobile communication facility may be a phone, a mobile phone, acellular phone, a GSM phone, or any other form of tethered or wirelesscommunications device.

The presentation of a suggested search query or a list thereof may beinitiated by a query entry, a substring query entry, voice query, or bycharacters entered into a client application.

It will be appreciated that the various steps identified and describedabove may be varied, and that the order of steps may be changed to suitparticular applications of the techniques disclosed herein. All suchvariations and modifications are intended to fall within the scope ofthis disclosure. As such, the depiction and/or description of an orderfor various steps should not be understood to require a particular orderof execution for those steps, unless required by a particularapplication, or explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the context.

It will be appreciated that the above processes, and steps thereof, maybe realized in hardware, software, or any combination of these suitablefor a particular application. The hardware may include a general purposecomputer and/or dedicated computing device. The processes may berealized in one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, embeddedmicrocontrollers, programmable digital signal processors or otherprogrammable device, along with internal and/or external memory. Theprocesses may also, or instead, be embodied in an application specificintegrated circuit, a programmable gate array, programmable array logic,or any other device that may be configured to process electronicsignals. It will further be appreciated that the process may be realizedas computer executable code created using a structured programminglanguage such as C, an object oriented programming language such as C++,or any other high-level or low-level programming language (includingassembly languages, hardware description languages, and databaseprogramming languages and technologies) that may be stored, compiled orinterpreted to run on one of the above devices, as well as heterogeneouscombinations of processors, processor architectures, or combinations ofdifferent hardware and software. At the same time, processing may bedistributed across a wireless search platform and/or a computer in anumber of ways, or all of the functionality may be integrated into adedicated, standalone device or other hardware. All such permutationsand combinations are intended to fall within the scope of the presentdisclosure.

It will also be appreciated that means for performing the stepsassociated with the processes described above may include any of thehardware and/or software described above. In another aspect, eachprocess, including individual process steps described above andcombinations thereof, may be embodied in computer executable code that,when executing on one or more computing devices, performs the stepsthereof.

In the following discussion, the term “deck” is generally used to referto in-garden content, or optionally, a discrete group of explicitlyinterrelated content items, while “mobile web” generally refers to WAPsites, and “web” generally refers to open web search results. Thus aneffort is made in the following description to distinguish betweenin-garden content, general mobile device content, and general webcontent. However, it will be appreciated that these distinctions are notalways exclusive, and not rigidly followed in the following discussion,so the context may appropriately suggest or require a narrower orbroader meaning to any of these terms.

As indicated by the navigation facility, the category “Deck” has beenselected and expanded to reveal sub categories 920 related to thecategory “Deck.” Again, the user can select the sub category (in thisembodiment “Music” is selected) to drill down into further categories orresults.

FIGS. 10A-10B illustrate several more screen shots in a progression ofscreen shots associated with a search from a user interface of a mobilecommunication facility 102. A search result is selected 1002, in thiscase a song related to Britney Spears; once the song is selected, theuser may be presented with options of delivery. For example, the usermay be provided with a preview option 1004 to sample the song. The usermay also be presented with an option relating to the content, indicatingthe content use 1008, so it can be properly formatted, installed, andassociated with the appropriate application(s) or device(s), and/or theuser may be presented with an option of different file types 1010.

In embodiments, results may be presented to the mobile communicationfacility 102 as they are retrieved without waiting for the entire resultset to be retrieved. In embodiments, certain results may be presentedand displayed while other results are in the process of being presentedor displayed This background processing of results may increase thespeed at which some results can be presented to a mobile communicationfacility 102. In embodiments, certain categories of results may bepresented to the mobile communication facility 102 before othercategories. For example, images may take longer to download, process,and/or collect as compared to ringtones, so the category of ringtones,or individual ringtones, may be presented to the mobile communicationfacility 102 before or while the image results or image category isbeing locally loaded for presentation.

FIG. 11 illustrates a scenario where a user 1104 of a mobilecommunication facility 102 would like to obtain relevant search resultsthrough the use of his mobile communication facility 102. Prior tomaking the search, there is already information relating to hispresence, his person, his calling habits, his web habits, other people'shabits, information relating to inferences about other people's behaviorwhen presented with options, and other information that may be used inthe development of results to this particular user 1104. For example,the user may be connected with a wireless service provider 108 eitherdirectly or through another facility. By interacting with the wirelessservice provider 108, the user can obtain information through theinternet, such as open content 1138, information within the confines ofthe wireless provider's 108 domain, walled garden content 132, carrierrules 130, mobile subscriber characteristic information 112, sponsorinformation 128, time of day (e.g. either local time, or time related toanother region), and location information as indicated by or providedthrough a location facility 110. Any or all of this information may beprocessed through a personal filter 644 (e.g. a collaborative filter)within the mobile search host facility 114 to refine a search query orrefine (filter) results before they are presented to the user 1104 onthe mobile communication facility 102.

As described in connection with FIG. 1, the mobile search host facility114 may include a personal algorithm facility/filter 144 (e.g. acollaborative filter or personal filter). The personal filter 144 may beused in conjunction with a search query entered and transmitted from themobile communication facility 102 along with information from one of theassociated databases and/or its location information. The personalfilter 144 may use an algorithm that predicts the desired results basedon information collected from other searchers (e.g. collaborativefiltering), as well information relating to the user (e.g. mobilesubscriber characteristic information from database 112, or locationinformation).

An implicit search scenario associated with the illustration of FIG. 11could be as follows. The person 1104 is walking down the street at 7:00p.m. The location of the mobile communication facility 102 is assessedusing a GPS system (i.e. in association with the location facility 110).The location is then stored. An implicit search is initiated eitherbecause it is the time of day for the periodic implicit search, becauseuser habits indicate the user is going to be looking for results soon,because there are advertisers interested in pushing an advertisement,there is a local sale, there is an activity nearby, or there are othertemporal, activity based, or other reasons to initiate the implicitsearch. Once the search is initiated, the stored location informationmay be transmitted to a mobile search host facility. The mobile hostsearch facility 142 may also collect information from other associatedsources (e.g. The mobile subscriber characteristics 112 database 112,the sponsor information database 128, carrier rules 130). The mobilesearch host facility is now prepared to perform a search based on thepersonal filter in the mobile search host facility 114 in conjunctionwith the user's location, time of day, and/or other information relatingto the several data sources available to the mobile search host facility114 (e.g. The mobile subscriber characteristics 112 database 112, thesponsor data base 128, the content 132, the carrier rules 130, and theopen web content 1138). All of the information may indicate that this isthe general time when the user 1104 eats dinner, so the mobile searchhost facility 114 may provide results to the mobile communicationfacility 102 that pertain to dinner. In these results, a sponsor mayhave participated in a search marketing auction in an attempt to get hisinformation onto the user's mobile communication facility 102. Forexample, a restaurant located in a building 1102C may be the high bidderon a keyword auction related to dinners within five miles of anotherbuilding 1102C where the user 1104 is located, so the information therestaurant wanted sponsored and displayed on the mobile communicationfacility 102 will be displayed if the user 1104 interacts with therestaurant information presented. The information may not be presenteduntil the user decides to look at search results, which may not everhappen. If the user 1104 does not interact with the sponsored resultthat was downloaded to the mobile communication facility 102, thesponsor may or may not have to pay a fee to the wireless provider 108for the sponsored content. If the user 1104 does interact with therestaurant information that was downloaded on the mobile communicationfacility 102, the restaurant may or may not have to pay a fee to thewireless provider 108.

To continue with this implicit search scenario, the user may enter intoa results mode or search mode on the mobile communication facility 102.In a results mode, results may appear without the need for a search. Inthis mode, the user may simply be presented with information that he maybe interested in, given all of the prior information that is known abouthim (e.g. location, time of day, and mobile subscriber information). Ina search mode, the user may enter a search query, and, if there is arelationship between the search query and the previously downloadedresults, the previously downloaded results may be presented. The usermay perceive this as a very fast search or a high bandwidth connectionbecause the search results are presented from local memory.

The previously downloaded results presented may include a sponsored linkfrom the restaurant, and the user may activate the sponsored link (e.g.by clicking on it). Once activated, or clicked or interacted with, theuser may be presented with information relating to the restaurant. Theinformation may include contact information (e.g. phone, address, email,URL) as well as a description of the restaurant. The user may bepresented with a general section of the restaurant's website or a spacetailored for the user 1104. For example, the restaurant may presentusers with a coupon or other sale if they arrive at the restaurantwithin a predetermined time. Knowing they are in the area and knowingthe volume of restaurant traffic, the restaurant may be able to offer amore targeted sale offer.

Likewise, the bookstore in a building 1102B may want to advertise to theuser 1104 because he is in the area and has some history of searchingamazon.com and the like. The restaurant may have signed up toparticipate in an auction for mobile communication facility 102advertising space relating to people in the area of the building 1102B,within the hours the store is open, where the people have a history ofactivities related to the purchase of books (e.g. searching amazon.com,purchasing books on-line, or are frequent travelers).

A flower shop in a building 1102D may employ similar techniques totarget suitable users in the area.

While embodiments involving implicit searching have been described inconnection with FIG. 11, it will be appreciated that the same or similartechniques may be applied to explicit searches. For example, the user1104 may be in the area of an office building 1102A and may be lookingfor the office building 1102A. The user 1104 may enter a search querywith the name of the office building 1102B, and the name of the officebuilding may be combined with the user's location and time of day tobetter target search results for the user.

An explicit search scenario associated with the illustration of FIG. 11could be as follows. The person 1104 is walking down the street at 7:00p.m. The location of the mobile communication facility 102 is assessedusing a GPS system (i.e. In association with the location facility 110).The location is then stored. An explicit search is initiated by the user1104. Once the search is initiated, the stored location information maybe transmitted to a mobile search host facility. The mobile host searchfacility 142 may also collect information from other associated sources(e.g. The mobile subscriber characteristics database 112, the sponsorinformation database 128, or carrier rules 130). The mobile search hostfacility is now prepared to perform a search based on the personalfilter in the mobile search host facility 114 in conjunction with theuser's location, time of day, and other information relating to theseveral data sources available to the mobile search host facility 114(e.g. The mobile subscriber characteristics 112 database 112, thesponsor data base 128, the content 132, the carrier rules 130, and theopen web content 1138). The search may be performed in conjunction withthe personal filter and other relevant filtering information to obtainresults. In these results, a sponsor may have participated in a searchmarketing auction in an attempt to get his information onto the user'smobile communication facility 102. For example, the restaurant locatedin a building 1102C may be the high bidder on a keyword auction relatedto dinners within five miles of the building 1102C, so the informationthe restaurant wanted sponsored and displayed on the mobilecommunication facility 102 will be displayed if the user 1104 interactswith the restaurant information presented. If the user does not interactwith the sponsored result that was downloaded to the mobilecommunication facility 102, the sponsor may or may not have to pay a feeto the wireless provider 108 for the right to post. If the user 1104does interact with the restaurant information that was downloaded on themobile communication facility 102, the restaurant may or may not have topay a fee to the wireless provider 108.

The downloaded results presented may include a sponsored link from therestaurant, and the user may activate the sponsored link (e.g. byclicking on it). Once activated, or clicked or interacted with, the linkmay present the user with information relating to the restaurant. Theinformation may include contact information (e.g. phone, address, email,URL) as well as a description of the restaurant. In one embodiment, theinformation may include a form or active control (such as a button) formaking reservations. The user may be presented with a general section ofthe restaurant's website or a space tailored for the user 1104. Forexample, the restaurant may present the user with a coupon or other saleif he or she arrives at the restaurant within a predetermined time.Knowing they are in the area and knowing the volume of restauranttraffic, the restaurant may be able to offer a more targeted sale offer.

Likewise, the bookstore in a building 1102B may want to advertise to theuser 1104 because he is in the area and has some history of searchingamazon.com and the like. The restaurant may have signed up toparticipate in an auction for mobile communication facility 102advertising space relating to people in the area of the building 1102B,within the hours the store is open, where the people have a history ofactivities related to the purchase of books (e.g. searching amazon.com,purchasing books on-line, is a frequent traveler).

In embodiments, search results are presented to the user 1104 on themobile communication facility 102 that are targeted to the user based oninformation relating to the user, the mobile communication facility 102,the location, and/or other information as described herein inconjunction with a personal filter. In embodiments, the information isalso used to better target advertising, and sponsored advertisements maybe provided to the mobile communication facility 102 through a pay forauction advertisement scheme. Such a scheme could be similar to thedesktop featured Google AdWords and AdSense by Google, Inc. of MountainView, Calif.

By way of another example made in connection with FIG. 11, the user 1104may receive a search result that includes a pay per call link, where thevendor associated with the call (typically the company being called)pays a fee when receiving a call through the pay per call number. Forexample, the user 1104 may search for results related to flowers andreceive back a phone number and possibly other contact information forthe flower shop in building 1102D. The link may have been provided as aresult of processing a search through a process involving a personalfilter in conjunction with information relating to the user, the mobilecommunication facility 102, and/or the mobile subscriber characteristicinformation (as indicated in the implicit search example and theexplicit search example illustrated in connection with FIG. 11). Oncethe user activates the phone number for the flower shop, the flower shopmay be able to receive the call for a fee, or reject the call.

In embodiments of the present invention, methods and systems may includepresenting a link in a user interface of a mobile communication device,where the link is configured to link to a commercial item that isavailable via a computer network, thus enabling a party to sponsor thelink. The link may be to an item of goods or services for sale, to apromotion, to a content item, to an advertisement, or to other materialof a commercial provider, such as a vendor of goods or services. Thelink may, for example, be to an item on an electronic commerce site, toan auction site, to a reverse auction site, to a news site, to aninformation site, or to other content on a computer network, such as webcontent, content located on other networks, or the like. The link mayinclude or be associated with various e-commerce features, such as thoseenabling single click purchasing, bidding, targeted advertising, instantpurchasing (e.g., “buy it now”), tracking of clicks or transactions,tracking of referrals, affiliate program features, or the like. Inembodiments the link is a sponsored link that is presented to a user onthe user interface of a mobile communication facility 102, such as acell phone. The sponsored link may be presented in association with animplicit query 164 (and may be related to such a query). The sponsoredlink may be presented in response to entering an explicit query (orpartial entry of such a query). The sponsored link may be presented uponmaking of a telephone call or other action of a user of the mobilecommunication facility 102. The sponsored link may be presented uponretrieval of results, sorting of results, filtering of results,presentation of results, or routing of results, such as in response to asearch function 142 that is executed in response to a query.

In embodiments the right to sponsor a link is obtained via a biddingprocess among a plurality of candidate sponsors. The bidding process maybe automated, whereby a bid (or a reserve bid, reserve price, or thelike) is automatically compared to other bids made by other candidatesponsors for a link in an auction format. In other embodiments bids needonly meet a required price in order to be accepted. An algorithmfacility 144 may determine what link or links relate to “winning” bidsfor sponsoring particular links. Bids can be for presenting links at aparticular position in the user interface, at a particular point in anavigation sequence (such as on a home page, on a search screen, after acall has been made, after a transaction has been executed, afternavigation to a particular screen, upon presentation of an implicitquery 164, upon entry of an explicit query, upon retrieval of results,upon routing of results, and/or upon consummation of a transaction, orthe like). Bids can be made for associating a link with particularcontent, such as particular forms of queries, particular results, orparticular content items. For example, a sponsor who sells golfequipment might bid to sponsor links whenever an implicit or explicitquery uses the terms “golf,” “tee,” or “par,” while a sponsor who sellsvideo content might seek to sponsor links when a query uses the terms“movie,” “film,” “cinema” or “show.” In embodiments a bidding processmay occur in close proximity in time to the presentation of the link.

In embodiments, an advertisement may be presented to a mobilecommunication facility based at least in part on receiving a webpagerequest from the query facility of a mobile communication facility,receiving information associated with the mobile communication facility,and associating at least one advertisement with a webpage at least inpart based on the information relating to the mobile communicationfacility. For example, a user of a mobile communication facility mayinitiate a search query for “Sonny Rollins.” The potential searchresults that may be presented to the user's mobile communicationfacility may include advertisements and websites for CD's of SonnyRollin's music, videos of his performances, etc. Information about themobile communication facility (e.g., its video streaming capabilities)may be used in order to determine which of the advertisement/webpageresults may be presented successfully to the user's mobile communicationfacility. This information may, in turn, be used to pair webpages andadvertisements that are each capable of presenting in the display of theuser's mobile communication facility.

In certain embodiments, the right to sponsor the link is obtained via anauction, which may be an online auction.

In embodiments a link may be associated with a disambiguated version ofa query, so that a link appears only after the relevancy of a query hasbeen assessed.

In embodiments a sponsored link may be associated with a result that isretrieved via a search that is executed using the mobile communicationdevice 102. For example, a link for a camera vendor may appear only whenone of the highest-ranked search results uses the words “digitalcamera.”

In embodiments, the sponsored link may be associated with the sorting ofresults that are retrieved via a search function 142 that is executedusing the mobile communication device. For example, a link may besponsored (including after a bidding process) only if associated resultsare ranked sufficiently high after they are sorted (such as being sortedas a result of a ranking or disambiguation process).

In embodiments, a sponsored link may be associated with the filtering ofresults that are retrieved via a search function 142 that is executedusing the mobile communication device. For example, the sponsored linkmay only appear after certain types of results have been filtered out.For example, a sponsor of travel to Paris, France, might bid to sponsora link only in situations where results relating to Paris Hilton havebeen filtered out before results are presented to the user.

In embodiments a sponsored link may be associated with the presentationof results that are retrieved via a search function 142 that is executedusing the mobile communication device. For example, if certain resultsare modified or filtered, such as based on the capability of aparticular device to present certain content, a sponsored link may besponsored only for situations where relevant results can be presented onthe mobile communications facility. For example, a sponsor may bid tosponsor links to instructional videos for yoga, but only forpresentation on devices that are capable of rendering sample video.

In embodiments a sponsored link may be associated with the routing ofresults that are retrieved via a search function 142 that is executedusing the mobile communication device. For example, if an algorithmfacility 144 includes rules for routing certain types of results, asponsored link may be associated with the execution of such rules. Forexample, rules related to parental controls 150 may route content ormessages to parents if children appear to be attempting to accessinappropriate content. A sponsored link may allow a provider of parentalcontrol software or services to present a link that is associated withthe routed results.

In embodiments, a link may be provided to a commercial item of a partywho has not yet sponsored the link. The party may then be offered theopportunity to sponsor the continued presentation of the link. Inembodiments, the offer to continue to sponsor the link may be presentedto a commercial entity contemporaneously with or upon a user's executionof the link. In embodiments such an offer may include an invitation forthe commercial entity to participate in an auction or bidding processfor continued sponsorship of the link or for sponsorship of at least oneadditional link.

In embodiments, the link to a commercial entity may include a phonenumber for a provider of the commercial item. In embodiments, the phonenumber may be a dedicated phone number, which, when called by a user,conveys an intermediate message to the commercial entity that includesan offer to continue the link in exchange for an agreement by thecommercial entity to pay some consideration, which may be a sponsoredlink basis, an auction basis, a pay per call basis, or the like.

In embodiments, a generalized process may be used for disambiguating auser query entry 120 by pairing the query information with at least oneelement from the mobile subscriber characteristics 112 database 112.Once the user submits a query entry 120 via the mobile communicationfacility 102, the query is wirelessly routed to the wirelesscommunication facility 104 and then to the wireless provider 108. Thewireless provider 108 may then abstract data stored in the mobilesubscriber characteristics 112 database 112 that is relevant to the userquery entry 120. Relevance may be based upon semantic similarities,temporal factors, and geographic and/or demographic congruence betweenthe substance of the query entry 120 and that found in the mobilesubscriber characteristics 112 database 112. Once this information islinked, the disambiguation facility 140 may carry out operations toelucidate the probable best meaning of the user's query entry 120 androute the result(s) back through the wireless provider 108 and wirelesscommunication facility 104 to the mobile communication facility 102 fordisplay 172 to the user.

Representative elements that may be stored within the mobile subscribercharacteristics 112 database 112 include location, personal informationrelating to a user, web interactions, email interactions, messaginginteractions, billing history, payment history, typical bill amount,time of day, duration of on-line interactions, number of on-lineinteractions, family status, occupation, transactions, previous searchqueries entered, history of locations, phone number, device identifier,type of content previously downloaded, content previously viewed, andsites visited.

Similarly, the query entry 120 may be disambiguated based uponcharacteristics of the user's mobile communication facility 102 (e.g.,unique phone number, device identifier, or other unique identifier),information stored within the mobile communication facility 102 (e.g.,information stored in the memory of the device), or information storedon a database associated with a server.

In embodiments, mobile search host facilities 114 may be used forproviding mobile communications facility 102 users additional relevantresult set(s) based upon a query entry 120. For example, the mobilecommunication facility 102 may have a cache 2300 of memory whereinsalient information is stored, such as aspects of the mobilecommunication facility 102, the user's profile, and a user behavioralhistory (e.g., phone calls, websites visited, search queries, frequencyof queries, frequency of downloading content, rate changes in thefrequency of events, and frequency of purchases).

This information may be automatically refreshed and transferred, at settemporal intervals, from the mobile communication facility 102 to thewireless communication facility 104, and then on to either the user'swireless provider 108 or directly to the mobile search host facilities114. Within the mobile search host facilities 114, the query content maybe filtered by an algorithm facility 144 that scrutinizes the querycontent for the purpose of providing the user additional suggestions inthe result set(s). For example, the frequency of terms used by the userin the query entry 120 may be used by the algorithm facility 144 tosuggest related results based upon similar frequency indexing of keywords or upon the popularity of query terms and results. As the useramends his query entry 120, the cache 2300 may implicitly transfer thecontent to the mobile search host facilities 114 for real timeprocessing within the disambiguation facility 140, search facility 142,or other facility within the mobile host search facilities 114.

Additional facilities within the mobile search host facilities 114 maybe used to add meaningfulness to the query entry 120. For example, thedisambiguation facility 140 may categorize the query entry 120 basedupon key words, word frequency, and/or word combinations, therebyenabling the resulting categories, such as title, artist, and yellowpage-type categories. Carrier business rules 158, parental controls 150,and a sponsorship facility 162 may also be used to generate suggestionsfor these and related search query and/or result set(s).

An interactive process between the mobile communication facility 102 andthe disambiguation step 210 may be used for unambiguous query formation2400. Once a user submits a query entry 120 to the mobile communicationfacility 102, a process of correction 244 may be necessary or helpfulfor unambiguous query formation 2400 that is sufficient to yieldintelligible and useful result set(s). As part of the correction 244process, information specific to the type of mobile communicationfacility 102 may be used; for example, if the device has unique deliverycapabilities, the query may need correction in order to derive a resultset compatible with these capabilities. Information stored in the mobilesubscriber characteristics database 112 or parental controls facility150 may also be integral to the correction 244 process. In embodiments,the search engine may automatically suggest corrections for commonmisspellings, including those which are unique to the mobile experience(e.g., “2nite”)

A user's query entry 120 may return a null result set or an improbableresults set. In this case, the search facility 142, in conjunction withthe mobile communication facility 102, could automatically triggercorrection 244 and iteratively cycle through alternative query entries120 until a non-null or higher probability result set is delivered.

In embodiments, items which have been more recently added or updated mayreceive a ranking priority indicative of their freshness.

In embodiments, additional recommendations may be made following auser's query entry 120 based upon the information related to the mobilecommunication facility 102. For example, mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, carrier business rules 130, or sponsor information,in conjunction with the query entry 120, may suggest relevantrecommendations for the user. The recommendations may be paired with thequery entry 120 search results or presented prior to, or following, thedisplay of the search results.

A user's prior search activities and search results may also be used tocreate recommendations for the user. Prior search activities may includetransactions, search queries, visits to websites, phone calls, and/orother acts initiated by the user on the mobile communication facility102. The geographic location of the mobile communication facility 102may foster recommendations including, but not limited to, sponsorinformation (e.g. products and services) in the user's currentgeographic vicinity. The current time may be used independently or inconjunction with other information to create user recommendations. Forexample, the independent fact that it is noon may create recommendationsfor restaurants serving lunch. This information may be further filteredby the location of the mobile communication facility 102 to recommendonly those restaurants that are in the user's immediate vicinity, and itmay be further filtered by the subscriber's characteristics to recommendonly that subset of restaurants serving lunch in the user's currentvicinity that have received high ratings by restaurant patrons with ademographic profile similar to the user's. As with the above restaurantexample, similar processes for generating meaningful recommendations maybe applied to other services and products, including transportation(navigation, taxis, buses, trains, cars, airports, etc.), food and drink(groceries, drive through restaurants, bars, etc.), entertainment(theater, sports, movies, clubs, etc.), business (corporations,workplaces, banks, post offices and other mailing or shippingfacilities. etc.), consumer needs (gas stations, drug or clothingstores, baby sitters, parking, etc.), and information specific to thelocale (directions, locations, starting times, news, etc.)

In embodiments, classifications of search categories may be presentedthat relate to the search query on a display associated with the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be mapped to a taxonomy of querycategories and classification schema (e.g., the yellow pages phone booktaxonomy).

In embodiments, results may be retrieved based on submitting a queryentry 120 in conjunction with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102. This information may include the mobilesubscriber characteristics 112, carrier business rules 130, and sponsorinformation. The additional information stored in these databases mayform search parameters that limit the search query and the display ofresult set(s) by omitting information, prioritizing information (e.g.,presenting sponsor links prior to all others), highlighting a subset ofthe search result set, or ordering the display of information based upona sponsor auction (i.e., highest bidder presented first). In the case ofthe sponsor auction, sponsors may bid on keywords that they would liketo be associated with their products, services, and links thereto.

In embodiments, results may be ordered in relation to the query entry120 based at least in part on information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102. This information may include mobilesubscriber characteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144,parental controls 150, carrier business rules 130, and/or sponsorinformation. Ordering results related to a query entry 120 based onsponsor information may be done by associating sponsors with key wordsused in query entries, and/or associating query entries with sponsorcontent. When a query entry 120 matches a sponsor's keyword(s) orcontent, that sponsor's information may be prioritized in the searchresult display, highlighted, or otherwise given superiority over othercontent related to the query entry 120. Association of key words withsponsors may occur through an auction in which bidders compete for soleassociation with keywords or for a shared frequency of keywordassociation (e.g., every other occurrence of a keyword). Furthermore,the auction process could include bidding to determine the size of theresulting sponsor content display (e.g., expressed as a percentage ofthe user's total display space on the mobile communication facility 102)and the addition of multimedia content to the results display, such asadding graphics, audio, or a video stream.

Query results may also be ordered, at least in part, based on thecapabilities of the mobile communication facility 102, wherein thecapability is an audio, visual, processing, or screen capability.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be made by producing predictivetext based, at least in part, on information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, such as mobile subscriber characteristics112, a search algorithm facility 144, a personal filter, parentalcontrols 150, carrier business rules 130, or sponsorship information.Additionally, predictive text may be based on the mobile communicationfacility's 102 SMS conversion and/or keypad sequence conversion.Additionally, T9 errors may be corrected. For example, if a user seeks“Britney” and dials 2748639. T9 may interpret that as “Argumenw”instead.

In embodiments, a voice-based query entry 120 may be associated withinformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102, such asvoice interpretation based, at least in part, on SMS conversion.

In embodiments, an auction may be associated with a query entry 120.Performing the auction may involve using information relating to themobile communication facility 102, for example, mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144, a personal filter,parental controls 150, or carrier business rules 130. The result set(s)display may prioritize or highlight sponsor results.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 and results presented on a screen associated with themobile communication facility 102, and a transaction may be performed inassociation with a sponsored link, where the transaction may occur bythe user clicking on a sponsored link or engaging in a commercialtransaction, such as purchasing downloadable content.

In embodiments, aggregated content may be presented to the mobilecommunication facility 102. Content may be aggregated through a spider,including, for example, ringtone content, music content, or videocontent. The spider may determine the compatibility of the content withthe capabilities of the mobile communication facility 102. Compatibilitymay be determined by running a series of mock mobile communicationfacility 102 trials and using the results to extract results from siteson a preferred basis. The preferred basis may provide for the extractionfrom a WAP compatible content site first, or extraction from contenttype sites first, where the content was aggregated in relation toinformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, spiders may be used to determine the compatibilitybetween content and the capabilities of mobile communication facilities.For example, a spider may present to a content provider as a particulartype of mobile communication facility in order to detect the level ofcompatibility between that type of mobile communication facility and thecontent offered by the content provider. Furthermore, a contentprovider, such as a mobile storefront, may provide different content foreach type or class of mobile communication facility. The spider may beable to present to the content provider and determine the associationsbetween a given provider's content classes and types or classes ofmobile communication facilities.

In embodiments, spiders may be able to determine the compatibility ofcontent with mobile communication facility types by detecting webpagecontent qualities that are specific to a type or class of mobilecommunication facility (e.g., HTML tags, color depth, number of images,size of images, etc). Once the compatibility data is compiled by aspider, the data may be stored in a database and used in conjunctionwith a search engine to optimize content presentation by sending onlycompatible content, or the most compatible content available, to themobile communication facility from which the search query is sent.

In embodiments, a sponsored link may be displayed on a displayassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 that allows a vendorassociated with the sponsored link to selectively receive a connectionor receive search results (including a sponsored phone number) where aneconomic transaction takes place when the sponsored number is at leastone of those called and answered.

In embodiments, content may be delivered to a mobile communicationfacility 102 based at least in part on information relating to themobile communication facility 102, and later content may be produced asthe result of a search query. The content presented may be informationrelating to the location of the mobile communication facility 102, suchas restaurants, entertainment, theaters, and show times. Information mayalso relate to the time of day, mobile subscriber characteristics 112,or parental controls 150. The content may include advertisements and maybe stored locally on the mobile communication facility 102 (e.g., in thecache memory) and periodically updated according to the time of dayand/or changes in location of the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a wireless carrier report may be generated based uponthe click through performance following one or more search query entrieson a mobile communication facility 102. The report may containinformation relating to search result quality, keyword management, andrevenue generation, and it may be segmented by the type of mobilecommunication facility 102 used.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be made in a search box of amobile communication facility 102 where the search box is presented onan idle screen.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered into a search facility 142that is adapted to produce results based on the mobile compatible pagerank. The mobile compatible page rank may derive from the page'scompatibility with the screen, the processing capability of the mobilecommunication facility 102, or upon the complexity of the page(s).

In embodiments, a relationship may be generated between a query entry120 and at least one mobile subscriber characteristic. The mobilesubscriber characteristics 112 may include location, personalinformation, history of the user's web interactions, and or othercharacteristics, which may also be used in combination with other dataconcerning the subscriber, the mobile device, and so forth.

In embodiments, a relationship may be generated between a query entry120 and the location of a mobile communication facility 102 using alocation-based service. The relationship may be between at least onequery entry 120 and the location and a time of day. Location may beprovided by a GPS system or a cell phone triangulation service.

In embodiments, the location of a mobile communication facility may beused by its user to perform comparison shopping. For example, a usersearching for electronics may be provided with the contact information(e.g., web address, street address, email address, phone number, etc.)for electronics retailers within a given distance of the currentlocation of the user's mobile communication facility. Both the onlineand offline (bricks-and-mortar) inventories of stores may be presentedto the mobile communication facility user in order to comparing stores'offerings.

The Internet provides systems and methods for comparison shopping using,for example, product descriptions and product rankings that a consumermay find online. Internet-based systems and methods, however, may not beadaptable to mobile use, so that comparison shopping using such systemsand methods take place at a static location. Described herein aresystems and methods for comparison shopping that are advantageouslyadapted for mobile use. The systems and methods described andexemplified herein take advantage of features of a mobile communicationfacility 102. Use of a mobile communication facility 102 may enable theconsumer to identify and compare products without reliance upon acomputer or an internet connection. Features of the mobile communicationfacility 102 have been presented previously in detail. Use of a mobilecommunication facility 102 in conjunction with other elements of thesystems and methods described herein may permit mobile comparisonshopping, desirable to consumers with active, mobile lifestyles. Furtherdescription of these systems and methods follows, with reference in partto FIG. 1.

In embodiments, a consumer may activate a mobile comparison shoppingsystem by entering a product selection into a mobile communicationfacility 102. As described in more detail above, the mobilecommunication facility 102 may be any device capable of wirelesscommunication. The consumer may enter the product selection into themobile communication facility 102 using any input process suitable forthe particular type of mobile device. Without limitation, the productselection may be performed by use of text, voice, touch (e.g., atouchscreen), optical reading (e.g., a barcode), image recognition, orclick signal (e.g., a clickthrough). The product selection may beperformed through an explicit or an implicit search.

For example, a consumer may wish to perform mobile comparison shoppingin search of a new computer. She may enter a search query (“laptopcomputer”) that provides a list of search results for the productselection, from which she can then select the type of laptop for whichshe wishes further shopping comparison information. Alternatively, thesearch results may be organized according to PC-based systems andMac-based systems, so that the consumer has to choose one category toclick through to get to the particular type of laptop for which shewishes further shopping comparison information.

As another example, a consumer may take her cell phone camera orcomparable device into a store where she sees a product for which shewishes more shopping comparison information. She may take a digitalpicture of a product and electronically submit the picture to an imagerecognition facility, where the picture may be compared to an image of aparticular product to provide the basis for product selection. She mayalso take a picture of a barcode, or use a mobile communication facility102 equipped with a barcode reader, so that the product's barcode mayprovide the basis for product selection.

In response to the submission of a product selection to a productselection facility, the mobile comparison shopping system may identifymerchants who sell such products, or who sell products associated withthe product selection. In response to the search query about a laptopcomputer, for example, the mobile communication facility 102 may providea list of vendors who sell the product, e.g., BestBuy, CompUSA,University Computers. Alternatively, the mobile communication facility102 may provide a list of categories of vendors (e.g., retail,wholesale, university-based) for the user to select; upon selecting thecategory, the user may receive data about vendors within the category.In embodiments, the mobile communication facility location or locationentered into the mobile communication facility may be used to refineand/or order the results displayed on the mobile communication facility.For example, the display may indicate that the product can be found at astore that is located at a certain distance from the mobilecommunication facility. In embodiments, the product comparison mayinvolve product descriptions found on the web or on some other networklocation.

It is understood in the art that a merchant or a vendor may also be aservice provider, and that a product may also be a service. For example,a query regarding a dentist may produce an ordered list of dentists,with the ordering based at least in part on information relating to themobile communication facility 102. A query regarding a product may alsoproduce a list of associated products, ordered by relevance, or by anyother characteristic. For the laptop computer query, for example, a listof merchants selling computer accessories and peripherals may begenerated.

It is further understood that ordered lists of merchants may bereordered according to other search terms entered by the user oraccording to any other information related to the mobile communicationfacility 102. For example, a list of merchants selling a desired productmay be re-sorted based on proximity, on price, on hours of business, oron any other characteristic that is provided by the user, that residesin the mobile communication facility 102, or that is provided by a thirdparty. As an example, the list of merchants selling laptop computers maybe culled to include only those who are open at a particular time ofday, whether the time of the query or some other time (9 AM, forexample). That list may then be re-sorted according to price, inventory,proximity or some other characteristic. In this example, the list may besorted based on inventory, with only those merchants having the desiredproduct being listed.

In embodiments, a number of characteristics may be used to sort or toorder a list of merchants who sell a particular product or who provide aparticular service. Information relating to the mobile communicationfacility 102 may include user characteristics input by a user, or usageinformation tracked by the mobile communication facility 102 or othertracking system, or information provided by a third party, for example awireless operator, a wireless service provider or a telecommunicationsservice provider.

In embodiments, information used to order a list of merchants mayinclude information directly provided by the user, such as usercharacteristics. For example, the mobile communication facility 102 mayprovide user characteristics such as demographic information to order alist of physicians: a user who is female and under 35 may be presentedwith an ordered list of physicians that features family doctors andgynecologists, while the over-65 user may be presented with an orderedlist of physicians that features internists or cardiologists. A mobilecommunication facility 102 may order the list of merchants according toproximity, by noting the geographic location of the mobile communicationfacility 102 via GPS and the like. A mobile communication facility 102may also order the list of merchants according to proximity byreferencing the user's home address, business address, zip code, and thelike. A mobile communication facility 102 may sort through a list ofphysicians or dentists based on the user's health insurance plan.

In embodiments, information used to order a list of merchants mayinclude information indirectly provided by the user, such as userhistory or user transactions. Information indirectly provided by theuser includes all such information that may be derived from a pattern ofuse. For example, a search for laptop computers may prioritize merchantsselling non-Dell products if a user has a history of tech support callsto Dell. A search for laptop computers may prioritize merchants sellingMac products if the user has engaged in other Apple transactions, suchas ordering music from iTunes.

In embodiments, information provided by a third party may be used toorder a list of merchants. Content may be provided by a third party,such as a wireless provider 108, that would order merchants according toquality rankings, cost of products, sponsorship payments, or otherordering systems. Furthermore, the ordered list of merchants may befurther ordered based on the particular products being sold, thecharacteristics of the products, or by third-party information such asproduct reviews. The ordered list of merchants may be ordered byavailable information about their prices or their product inventory(online or offline).

In embodiments, the third party may provide specific ordering servicesto which the user may subscribe. A user may request access to anordering system on a pay-per-use basis or as an ongoing subscription.For example, the user who subscribes to Boston Magazine may have thelist of merchants ordered according to the Best of Boston lists. Asanother example, the user who subscribes to Consumer Reports may requestthat the list of merchants be ordered according to the Consumer Reportsranking of the products that the merchant sells. The user may alsopurchase a single-use third-party rating, such as a Consumer Reportsrating, to order a specific list of merchants and/or products, forexample, in response to a search query about laptop computers. In thisexample, the single-use Consumer Reports rating may provide a rank orderof computer quality, an ordering based on dependability and reliability,an ordering depending on price, and the like, in exchange for a fee thatis paid at the time when the rank order is produced.

In embodiments, third party ranking systems may draw from content thatis private to the consumer, and/or is privacy-protected. A user lookingfor a pharmacy in proximity to where he is driving may receive a list ofmerchants ordered in part based on the availability of pharmaceuticalinventory that corresponds to the prescribing information in his medicalrecord. Any such third-party data used for ordering would be subject toprivacy regulations that pertain to health care information. A patientmay opt into such a service by granting permission to the data service,and the use of the medical record data would be appropriately encryptedso that the privacy of the information is protected. Other uses ofprotected, private or confidential information about a consumer forcomparison shopping using a mobile communication facility 102 may bereadily envisioned by skilled artisans.

In embodiments, a consumer may wish to include multiple third-partyrating structures which then may be harmonized or compared duringcomparison shopping. For example, the Consumer Reports ranking on alaptop may be compared or harmonized with the PC World ranking, so thatlaptop products with the top rankings in both ranking systems are placedat the top of the list. A list of merchants selling these products maythen be produced and ordered according to other criteria, such as havebeen described herein (user characteristics, usage patterns, third partycontent and the like). Similarly, and by way of exemplification, a listof services and/or service providers may be ordered by a third partyordering system. For example, a list of physicians may be ordered inaccordance with public information available from the Board of Registryin Medicine, such as malpractice claims, number of publications, numberof honors, years in practice, and the like, or in accordance withthird-party ranking systems, such as The Best Doctors in America.

In embodiments, combinations of ordering parameters may be provided thatrelate to the mobile communication facility 102. As an example, usercharacteristics such as age and profession may be used to ordermerchants selling computers: certain types of computers, sold by certainmerchants, may be ranked as more suitable for a young male graphicartist, while the ranking may be different for a middle-aged female taxaccountant. The resultant list may then be refined based on usertransactions, so that a young male graphic artist and potential Macconsumer may be directed to merchants who sold other products that mayappeal to that user. For example, user transactions such as onlineordering patterns may provide information for refining the order of thelist. Subsequently, the resultant list of merchants may be ordered byother parameters. Price may be used as an ordering parameter for theprice-conscious young graphic artist, while the middle-aged accountantwho subscribes to Consumer Reports may use Consumer Reports “reportcards” as ordering parameter. A variety of combinations of orderingsystems and parameters related to the mobile communication facility 102are contemplated by the disclosure herein.

Using the systems and methods as described herein, the user may be ableto perform comparison shopping using a mobile communication facility102. From the product selections and ordered lists of merchants providedto the user, and from the ordering criteria derived directly orindirectly from the user or derived from third parties, the user maycompare products and merchants and make buying decisions.

In embodiments, results may be produced based at least in part on aquery entry 120 used in conjunction with a filter algorithm, where thefilter algorithm uses information gathered by a wireless provider 108.The algorithm facility 144 may be a collaborative filter where thesearch is an open web search, or it may be a recommendation system.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be processed through a resultsfacility 148 in which the results facility 148 is associated withinformation derived from the mobile communication facility 102, such asmobile subscriber characteristics 112 information.

In embodiments, a search query may be disambiguated on the mobilecommunication facility 102. Disambiguation may take place on the mobilecommunication facility 102 or on a server application. Disambiguationmay involve SMS translation, a spell check algorithm, a spell checktable, a phonetic spelling algorithm, a phonetic spelling table, or anumeric keypad word translation

In embodiments, a query entry 120 on a mobile communication facility 102may be, in part, processed through a voice recognition facility 160residing on the mobile communication facility 102. Alternatively, thevoice recognition facility 160 may reside on a remote server or in parton the mobile communication facility 102 and in part on a server.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 on a mobile communication facility 102may be processed in association with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102. This information may reside locally on themobile communication facility 102, or it may be stored remotely, forexample, in a mobile subscriber characteristics 112 database.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be processed on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that provides a parental control facility toregulate the results produced on the mobile communication facility 102.The parental controls 150 may be regulated through a server applicationor through the mobile communication facility 102.

Content that is available for viewing on a mobile communication facility102 may include adult content that may be restricted for presentationonly to a subset of users through the use of an authorization process.In one aspect, an authorization process for enabling or restricting thepresentation of adult content may include receiving a search request,receiving information relating to a mobile communication facility, anddetermining, based at least in part on information relating to a mobilecommunication facility 102, if the mobile communication facility isauthorized to receive a type of mobile content relating to the searchrequest. Mobile content may be a sponsored content, a sponsored link, asponsored call, a downloadable content, an audio stream, a video, agraphic element, or other form of adult content. Mobile content may be ablended content which combined non-adult and adult content. The searchrequest may be initiated by a mobile communication facility, including aphone, mobile phone, cellular phone, and or a GSM phone.

In embodiments, adult content, such as pornographic content, gamingcontent, gambling content, lottery content, or other mobile contentappropriate for adults may be restricted by monitoring informationrelating to a mobile communication facility 102 that is the intendedrecipient of such content. The information relating to a communicationfacility may be a user characteristic, such as age. The usercharacteristic may be selected from the group consisting of age, sex,race, religion, area code, zip code, home address, work address, billingaddress, credit information, family information, income information,birth date, birthplace, employer, job title, and length of employment.The user characteristic may be stored in a mobile subscribercharacteristics database. The information relating to a mobilecommunication facility may also include a user history, usertransaction, a geographic location, a user device or a time. Theinformation relating to a communication facility may be provided by awireless operator, a wireless service provider, and or atelecommunications provider.

In embodiments, the information relating to a communication facility maybe mobile content authority information. The mobile content authorityinformation may be derived from a mobile subscriber characteristicdatabase 112. The mobile content authority information may be logged peran administrator's request.

In embodiments of the method and system, the determination if a mobilecommunication facility is authorized to receive a type of mobile contentmay be based at least in part on information relating to a user of amobile communication facility. For example, a user of a mobilecommunication facility 102 may enter the text query entry 120 of“gambling.” Information relating to the mobile communication facility102 that may be stored in a mobile subscriber database 112 may indicatethat the user has an age of 30 years. Because this age exceeds that ageof maturity, the adult content related to gambling may be authorized topresent to the user's mobile communication facility 102. Alternatively,a user characteristic such as age may be used to set an authorityinformation in advance of a user's request for adult content. Forexample, in the previous example the user had an age in excess of theage of maturity. This information may permit a general authorization forthis user to access adult content on the mobile communication facility102 that is associated with the user, regardless of whether a searchrequest for mobile content has been received. This authorization may bemade by a wireless operator, wireless provider, telecommunicationsprovider, an individual (e.g., a parent), or any other party interestedin determining the content that is authorized to present to a mobilecommunication facility.

In embodiments, an authorization to view adult content may be used by anindividual to set an authorization using a logged administrator'srequest. For example, a parent may want to ensure that their child isnot able presented adult content on a mobile communication facility 102.The parent may be able to serve as an administrator of the child's phoneand log onto an authorization facility that may be maintained by awireless operator, wireless provider, and or a telecommunicationsprovider, and the like. Once logged onto the authorization facility, theparent may be presented with a menu of content types and set a uniqueauthorization level for each content type. For example, such a menu mayinclude a taxonomy. Such a taxonomy may include, but is not limited to,a set of search verticals, such as, “sports,” “weather,” “blogs,”“gambling,” “news,” “pornography,” “health,” “food,” and so forth.Within such as taxonomy a parent may be able to select to authorize ornot authorize the presentation of content from that search vertical, orcategory, to the child's mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, an authorization facility may have key words that anadministrator can accept or block from a search query entered into thequery entry facility 120 of the child's mobile communication facility102. For example, an administrator may block a query entry facility fromaccepting query entries that include keywords that are commonlyassociated with adult content, such as, gambling terms of art like “teamparlay” or “betting line,” explicit references common to pornography,terms associated with lotteries, such as “power ball,” “pick 3,” and thelike.

In embodiments, an authorization facility may combine elements of ataxonomy-based authorization with a keyword-base authorization. Forexample, an administrator may choose to block the presentation of searchresults derived from a search query naming genitalia which are relatedto the search vertical “pornography,” but permit search results topresent which are derived from the search vertical “Health.”

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be processed on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that provides a privacy facility 152associated with the mobile communication facility 102 to protect a userfrom loss of personal or other sensitive information relating to thesearch query.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be processed on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that provides a transactional securityfacility 154 associated with the mobile communication facility 102, inwhich the transactional security facility 154 is adapted to enablesecure transactions associated with the query entry 120. Thetransactional security facility 154 may involve the protection ofprivacy 152 and may be operated in association with parental controls150 or digital rights management.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be processed in conjunction withcarrier business rules 130 and with information relating to a mobilecommunication facility 102. Carrier business rules 130 may includewalled garden results, presenting out of garden content, sponsorinformation, or auctions. Information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102 may be mobile subscriber characteristicinformation.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be processed on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that produces sponsored results on thedisplay of the mobile communication facility 102. Sponsor results may bepaid inclusion results, auction results, or pay-per-click results (inconnection with a WAP site or a phone number). A sponsor of thesponsored result may receive compensation as a result of activityassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 phone number. Thepresentation of the sponsored results may be formatted as a link,presented as text, as a picture, as a video, or as an interactiveapplication. Content may be formatted for the mobile communicationfacility 102 and relate to webpage content or links for syndicatedadvertisements.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated on a mobilecommunication facility 102 and a related query suggested based, in part,on information relating to a mobile communication facility 102. Theinformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102 may be thefrequency of queries, frequency of downloading content, rate changes inthe frequency of events, and frequency of purchases. This informationmay be stored locally, on the mobile communication facility 102 in thedevice cache, or remotely. The cache may be updated during inactivesearch periods.

Disambiguation may occur by suggesting additional queries based upon thefrequency of terms used in the initial query entry 120 or upon thecategory of terms used (e.g., title, artist, or yellow pages taxonomy).Suggestions may be updated following the entry of new keystrokes on themobile communication facility 102. Disambiguation may also be based uponinformation contained in a mobile subscriber characteristics 112database, the type of mobile communication facility 102 used to make thequery, carrier business rules 130, a search algorithm facility 144, aterm frequency algorithm (based upon the popularity of results or queryterms), or parental controls 150.

In embodiments, a disambiguated query entry 120 may be corrected based,in part, on information relating to the mobile communication facility102 (e.g., device capabilities), mobile subscriber characteristics 112,or parental controls 150. During disambiguation, if no results arereceived from the search facility 142, the query may be correctedautomatically prior to displaying the results. If the received resultfrom the search facility 142 is estimated as unlikely, the mobilecommunication facility 102 may present an indication of this result onits display, for example, the LCD screen of a cellular phone.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated on a mobilecommunication facility 102 by making recommendations based, in part, oninformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102, such asthe subscriber characteristics, carrier business rules 130, or sponsorinformation. The recommendation may be presented in coordination withpresentation of the search results, in the same display as the searchresults, or prior to, or following, the presentation of the searchresults.

Disambiguating a query entry 120 on a mobile communication facility 102may also occur by providing recommendations based upon the relationshipbetween prior search activity and search results developed from thequery entry 120. Prior search activity may include transactions,searches, or other query behavior. Carrier business rules 130 may alsobe used to disambiguate a query entry 120, as may the location of themobile communication facility 102, the time of day, the time of a queryentry 120, or personal filters (e.g., a collaborative filter). Forexample, the pairing of location and time of day information may offerrecommendations to a user that is looking for transportation(navigation, taxis, buses, trains, cars, airports, etc.), food and drink(groceries, drive through restaurants, bars, etc.), entertainment(theater, sports, movies, clubs, etc.), business (corporations,workplaces, banks, post offices and other mailing or shippingfacilities. etc.), consumer needs (gas stations, drug or clothingstores, baby sitters, parking, etc.), and information specific to thelocale (directions, locations, starting times, news, etc.)

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated on a mobilecommunication facility 102 and classifications presented of searchcategories related to the disambiguated search query on a displayassociated with the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated on a mobilecommunication facility 102 by mapping the disambiguated search query toa query classification of category taxonomies (e.g., the yellow pagestaxonomy).

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated on a mobilecommunication facility 102 by retrieving results based on thedisambiguated search query in conjunction with information relating tothe mobile communication facility 102, such as mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, carrier business rules 130, or sponsor information.Sponsor information may be used to determine the display parameters ofthe results. For example, results may be prioritized, highlighted, orrestricted based upon sponsor information. Sponsor information mayderive, in part, from a sponsor auction in which competitive biddingtakes place to determine what sponsor information is associated withkeywords that may be used in users' query entries.

In embodiments, a search query may be disambiguated on a mobilecommunication facility 102 by ordering the results based, in part, oninformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102, such asmobile subscriber characteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144,parental controls 150, carrier business rules 130, or sponsorshipinformation. Disambiguation based on sponsor information may be done byusing the sponsor of the key word used in the query entry 120 or thesponsor of the resulting search content. The sponsored content may beprioritized or highlighted for display. Sponsor information used forthis prioritizing may result from an auction in which sponsors bid forthe right for their content to be associated with certain keywords thatmay be used in users' query entries.

Other disambiguation ordering rules may be related, in part, to theamount of content within a result category, the carrier business rules130, mobile subscriber characteristics 112, a search algorithm facility144, a personal filter, parental controls 150, sponsorship information,or the capabilities of the mobile communication facility 102, such asdisplay screen size or audio, visual, or processing capabilities.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated on a mobilecommunication facility 102 by producing predictive text based, in part,on information relating to the mobile communication facility 102, suchas the carrier business rules 130, mobile subscriber characteristics112, a search algorithm facility 144, a personal filter, parentalcontrols 150, or sponsorship information. The predictive text mayinvolve SMS conversion or keypad sequence conversion and may be based,in part, on a custom generated dictionary derived from informationrelating to the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, an ambiguous voice query entry 120 may be disambiguatedon a mobile communication facility 102 where the interpretation of thevoice is based, in part, on information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, is based on weighted probabilities relatingto a user, or is based on SMS conversion.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated on a mobilecommunication facility 102 by performing an auction related to thequery, where the results are based, in part, on the auction. Auctionresults may be used to prioritize the display of sponsor results or tohighlight information from high-bidding sponsors. Performance of theauction may be based in part on mobile subscriber characteristics 112, asearch algorithm facility 144, a personal filter, parental controls 150,or carrier business rules 130.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated on a mobilecommunication facility 102 by presenting results on the screen of themobile communication facility 102 and performing a transaction inassociation with a sponsored link. An economic transaction may arisefrom the user clicking on a sponsored link or purchasing downloadablecontent.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated on a mobilecommunication facility 102 by presenting aggregated content to themobile communication facility 102. Aggregation may occur through the useof a spider. Aggregated content may include ringtone content, musiccontent, or video content. A spider may also be used to determine thecompatibility between the available content and the capabilities of theuser's mobile communication facility 102. Compatibility may bedetermined through mock mobile communication facility 102 trials duringwhich the spider extracts results from sites on a preferred basis (basedupon WAP compatible content or content type).

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated on a mobilecommunication facility 102 by selecting a sponsored link for display onthe mobile communication facility 102 and allowing a vendor associatedwith the sponsored link to selectively receive a connection.Alternatively, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated by receivingsearch results that include a sponsored phone number, and an economictransaction takes place when the sponsored number is called andanswered.

In embodiments, disambiguated content may be delivered to a mobilecommunication facility 102 based, in part, on information relating tothe mobile communication facility 102. The content presented may beinformation relating to the location of the mobile communicationfacility 102, such as restaurants, entertainment, theaters, and showtimes. Information may also relate to the time of day, mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, or parental controls 150. The content may includeadvertisements and may be stored locally on the mobile communicationfacility 102 (e.g., in the cache memory) and periodically updatedaccording to the time of day and/or changes in location of the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, a wireless carrier report may be generated based uponthe click through performance and, in turn, based in part on one or moredisambiguated search query entries on a mobile communications facility.The report may contain information relating to search result quality,keyword management, and revenue generation, and it may be segmented bythe type of mobile communication facility 102 used.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated in a search boxof a mobile communication facility 102 where the search box is presentedon an idle screen.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated that is enteredinto a query entry 120 facility on a mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated in a searchfacility 142 that is adapted to produce results based on the mobilecompatible page rank. The mobile compatible page rank may derive fromthe page's compatibility with the screen, the processing capability ofthe mobile communication facility 102, or upon the complexity of thepage(s).

In embodiments, a relationship between a query entry 120 and at leastone mobile subscriber characteristic may be disambiguated. The mobilesubscriber characteristics 112 may include location, personalinformation, history of the user's web interactions, or a plurality ofcharacteristics, such as location and the time of day.

In embodiments, a query may be disambiguated by generating arelationship between a query entry 120 and the location of a mobilecommunication facility 102 using a location-based service. Therelationship may be between at least one query entry 120 and thelocation and a time of day. Location may be provided by a GPS system ora cell phone triangulation service.

In embodiments, results may be disambiguated based at least in part on adisambiguated query entry 120 used in conjunction with a filteralgorithm, where the filter algorithm uses information gathered by awireless provider 108. The algorithm facility 144 may be a collaborativefilter where the search is an open web search, or it may be arecommendation system.

In embodiments, a disambiguated query entry 120 may be processed througha results facility 148 where the results facility 148 is associated withinformation derived from the mobile communication facility 102, such asmobile subscriber characteristics 112 information.

In embodiments, a search query may be disambiguated on the mobilecommunication facility 102. Disambiguation may take place on the mobilecommunication facility 102 or on a server application. Disambiguationmay involve SMS translation, a spell check algorithm, a spell checktable, a phonetic spelling algorithm, a phonetic spelling table, or anumeric keypad word translation

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated on a mobilecommunication facility 102 where the query is at least in part processedthrough a voice recognition facility 160 residing on the mobilecommunication facility 102. Alternatively, the voice recognitionfacility 160 may reside on a remote server or in part on the mobilecommunication facility 102 and in part on a server.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that processes the query in association withinformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102. Thisinformation may reside locally on the mobile communication facility 102,or it may be stored remotely, for example, in a mobile subscribercharacteristics 112 database.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that provides a parental control facility toregulate the results produced on the mobile communication facility 102.The parental controls 150 may be regulated through a server applicationor through the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that provides a privacy facility 152associated with the mobile communication facility 102 to protect a userfrom loss of personal or other sensitive information relating to thesearch query.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that provides a transactional securityfacility 154 associated with the mobile communication facility 102,where the transactional security facility 154 is adapted to enablesecure transactions associated with the query entry 120. Thetransactional security facility 154 may involve the protection ofprivacy 152 and may be operated in association with parental controls150 or digital rights management.

In embodiments, a disambiguating query entry 120 may be processed inconjunction with carrier business rules 130 and with informationrelating to a mobile communication facility 102. Carrier business rules130 may include walled garden results, presenting out of garden content,sponsor information, or auctions. Information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102 may be mobile subscriber characteristicinformation.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be disambiguated on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that produces sponsored results on thedisplay of the mobile communication facility 102. Sponsor results may bepaid inclusion results, auction results, or pay-per-click results (inconnection with a WAP site or a phone number). A sponsor of thesponsored result may receive compensation as a result of activityassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 phone number. Thepresentation of the sponsored results may be formatted as a link orpresented as text, as a picture, as a video, or as an interactiveapplication. Content may be formatted for the mobile communicationfacility 102 and relate to webpage content or links for syndicatedadvertisements.

In embodiments, pay-per-click and pay-per-call program integration ontomobile communication facilities 102 may enable a wireless provider 108to deliver targeted, keyword-based ads and content to mobile userssearching for specific goods and services at the precise moment a userexpresses a need. Pay-per-click advertising, often referred to as“search engine marketing” or “keyword advertising,” operates on theprinciple of pay-for-performance; through this channel, advertisers maypay only for the “clicks,” or web site visits, they receive throughtheir text-based advertisement. Businesses may place their ads forspecific search phrases (or “keywords”) that best describe their companyor products. Advertisers generally use several different keywords fortheir ads, trying to maximize the number of searches for which they willappear (e.g., Sony may try to advertise for the search phrases “DVDplayer,” “Television,” “Mobile phone,” etc.). Search engine marketingoperates through a real-time auction-based pricing model in whichadvertisers “bid” to appear for their relevant keywords. Theadvertiser's position, or rank, in the paid listings is determined bythe bid price, with the top position going to the highest bidder. Giventhe wide range of popularity for keywords, competition variesdrastically for keywords; bid prices for the most popular keywords aredriven up as they attract more advertisers. Keyword competition may bedriven by several factors, including: a product's average sale price,customer acquisition cost, and number of competitors. Advertisers maycreate their own ads through a self-service or sales-assisted webinterface. Examples of web-based pay-per-click products include GoogleAdWords, Yahoo! Search Marketing, MIVA and Lycos InSite™ AdBuyer.) Whencreating an ad, the advertiser may supply information, such as, an adtitle, URL, description, and/or website URL. Pay-Per-Call advertisingcombines search functionality 142 with live on-the-phone interaction,resulting in a powerful marketing opportunity for local businesses.

Pay-per-call advertising operates on the same principle aspay-per-click, in that advertisers “bid” to appear in specific searchresults or directory categories, and are charged only when a consumerwho sees their ad places a call to the advertiser's listed phone number(a system-generated toll-free number that redirects the user to thecompany's true number). An advertiser's position in the list of paidresults is determined by the bid amount, with the highest bid yieldingthe top position. Unlike traditional search advertising, however,Pay-per-call advertising may be able to tap into the uniquely high levelof user “intent,” by connecting qualified mobile consumers directly withbusinesses—at the exact moment they are searching for specific goods andservices. Pay-per-call listings may be presented above traditionaldirectory or “yellow pages” results.

In embodiments, third-party pay-per-call inventory may be supplied to inthe form of XML feeds, each of which returns specific results data on aper-query basis about the keyword match, the advertiser and adinformation, bid price, and geographic filter settings. This informationmay then be parsed and packaged in a result set stacked on top of“natural” yellow page listings. A yield optimization algorithm may beused to ensure that each query is answered with a relevant andmonetizable set of paid content. The yield optimization algorithmconsiders several variables to determine placement and ranksimultaneously, including, relevancy, geography,click-through/call-through rate, and bid price. Relevancy may be, inpart, determined by the query string including keyword, location, andultimately demographic/behavioral factors that may be matched toinformation supplied in the advertisement and/or the assigned businesscategories. For geography, it may be possible to present only thosebusinesses serving the respective geographical areas (zip code, city,state) as specified by the advertiser. The algorithm for theclick-through/call-through rate may also consider the frequency withwhich users actually place the call to the advertiser in determiningbest query match. Bid price refers to the placement and rank of a givenadvertisement as determined, in part, by the amount paid by theadvertiser.

In embodiments, advertisers may create and manage their mobile searchpay-per-click advertising campaigns through a user interface thatpermits ad creation, selection of keywords to associate with the ad(s),and/or service area(s) in which to make the ad accessible, and place abid for the service. For example the advertiser may begin by enteringthe ad creative content, including the ad title, a “Landing page”URL/address (page to which user will be brought—not displayed), the“Display” URL/address (address to be displayed in ad), and an addescription (1-2 lines; for display in ad). The advertiser may thenenter keywords (search phrases) for which the ad should appear. Theremay be several ways of entering the keywords, including: manual entry(the advertiser may type/copy the keywords manually), use of a keywordsuggestion tool/thesaurus (advertisers can view synonyms or relatedkeywords, along with estimated monthly search volume and top bids),and/or bulk upload (advertisers may upload keywords in bulk when dealingwith a high volume of keywords). Finally, the advertiser may wish thatthe ad(s) target only a subset of users, such as, only users residing ina particular geographic region, meeting a set of demographic usercharacteristics, and/or users with a particular mobile communicationfacility 102.

Once an advertiser has selected one or more of the above criteria, theadvertiser may then set a specific, or maximum, price that they arewilling to pay for a click through to their web site. Bids may be foreach keyword associated with a given ad, or any other criterion, orcombination of criteria used by the advertiser to target the placementof their ad(s). Bids may be placed individually by keyword, or anadvertiser can apply one bid price across all new keywords for the newad. Advertisers will also be able to view the top bids for each keyworddirectly through the user interface, in order to gauge keywordcompetition and to ensure their ad appears in the desired position. Thebidding process may also include “Auto-Bid” functionality that allowsthe platform to manage an advertiser's bids directly. For instance, byspecifying the desired position for the ad and a maximum amount that anadvertiser is willing to pay for each click, the advertiser may allowthe system to monitor the competitive landscape and adjust theadvertiser's bids to pay only the minimum that is required to secure thedesired spot (up to but not exceeding the specified maximum).

In embodiments, advertisers may create and manage their mobile searchpay-per-call advertising campaigns through a user interface that permitsad creation, selection of details to associate with the ad(s), and/orservice area(s) in which to make the ad accessible, and place a bid forthe service. The advertiser may begin by entering the general contactinformation for the business, including: the business name,mailing/contact address, phone number (number where advertiser wishes toreceive call; ad may display system-generated toll-free number), and/orthe ad description. The advertiser may also enter additional pieces ofinformation and functionality pertaining to each ad, including: settingthe daily callable hours/schedule (the advertiser may specify a time ofday when it wants an ad to appear), upload company logo to appear withad, enter coupon information (e.g., the advertiser may setcampaign-specific discounts for users who reach a specific ad. Theadvertiser may then enter keywords (search phrases) in response to whichthe ad should appear. There may be several ways of entering thekeywords, including: manual entry (the advertiser may type/copy thekeywords manually), use of a keyword suggestion tool/thesaurus(advertisers can view synonyms or related keywords, along with estimatedmonthly search volume and top bids), and/or bulk upload (advertisers mayupload keywords in bulk when dealing with a high volume of keywords).The advertiser may choose that the ad(s) target only a subset of userssuch as users residing in a particular geographic region, meeting a setof demographic user characteristics, and/or having particular types of amobile communication facility 102. Advertisers may set the specificprice they will be charged whenever they receive a call through thepay-per-call system. They may have the ability to view in real-timecompetitors' prices per category in order to ensure their ad appears inthe desired position and to optimize their performance.

In embodiments, keyword sales sponsored listings (both pay-per-click andpay-per-call) may go through an administrative and editorial review toensure an ad pertains to the business and the categories selected by theadvertiser, and that the ad will be deemed appropriately relevant by ayield optimization algorithm.

In embodiments, pay-per-click and pay-per-call advertisements may bepriced as “pay-for-performance,” in that the advertiser is charged onlyfor those calls successfully placed through the mobile communicationfacility 102 interface. It may be possible to configure the platformsuch that advertisers are not charged for repeat calls, short calls(e.g., a wrong number or other unintentional call), and/or hang-ups ordisconnections. In addition to flat per-call charges, some specificcalls (e.g., calls exceeding a given time threshold) may be subject tooverage fees.

A mobile content website may contain web pages including text. The textmay be unrelated to navigation or activation links on the web page, yetmay provide valuable insight into the value and purpose of the website.Alternatively the text may be related to navigation links which, whenclicked by a user or search engine, may open a different web page withinthe mobile content website (an internal link). Text may be related tonavigation links which, when clicked by a user or search engine may opena web page outside of the mobile content website (an external link). Thetext may also be related to action links such as links for orderingproducts, enrolling in email lists, viewing videos, selecting one ormore options, and the like.

The various texts on a mobile content website may include terms (words,phrases, expressions, and the like) which are relevant in one or moreways to the product, service, business, function, or purpose of themobile content website. If the text is presented in substantiallycomplete sentences, it may also include terms which, while important tothe readability of the text, are not relevant to the mobile contentwebsite. The text may also include terms that are relevant to one ormore action links (such as ordering, or a user name input window, andthe like), yet may not provide substantially valuable insight into thevalue or purpose of the mobile content website.

Another text aspect associated with a mobile content website is theinbound links to the website on other website pages. These in-boundlinks and their associated text may also include terms that are highlyrelevant to the value and/or purpose of the mobile content website.

Yet another text aspect associated with the mobile content website is atelephone listing. A phone number listing, in a white or yellow pages,or other directory such as an on-line directory, may also include terms(and contact information) relevant to the mobile content website.

Sponsors of mobile content websites may be desirous of promoting theirwebsites to mobile communication users. Mobile communication users maybe desirous of learning about the mobile content website, so they mayuse a mobile search service to help them identify websites in which theymay be interested. A technique used by search services, particularlythose associated with websites, is to match keywords input by a user torelevant terms associated with websites. Therefore a sponsor may preferto have a method or system to analyze their mobile content website toidentify relevant terms, and perhaps rank the terms to identify the mostpopular or useful terms. A sponsor may further use the analysis systemor method to improve website text such that relevant terms more closelymatch popular or useful keywords.

In embodiments, a method or system may be used to analyze a mobilecontent website to identify keywords that represent relevant terms usedon the mobile content website. As an example, an automated system mayprocess each page of the mobile content website counting terms in thetext, resulting in counts of each term on the website. Furtherprocessing through one or more filters for filtering out common terms(such as prepositions) may result in a count of unique, relevant termsin the text. Further processing the words into groups such as thoseterms related to action links, internal links, external links, and thelike may result in an analysis of relevant terms of a mobile contentwebsite. The result may be summarized as a report and may be presentedto the sponsor.

In embodiments, the mobile content website keyword/term analysis reportmay be incorporated into a marketing program which may includeadvertising and/or promotion of the mobile content website to mobilecommunication users. The marketing program may be provided by orassociated with a wireless provider 108 that may support a sponsorshipfacility 162 through which at least a portion of the marketing programmay be administered. The marketing program may further incorporateanalysis of any text associated with inbound links (and the linksthemselves) to the mobile content website, and any text associated withtelephone listings, thereby providing a complete view of the textassociated with the mobile content website.

The marketing program may also include evaluating a sponsor's website todetermine the frequency of the appearance of key words and/or keyphrases known to often be used in searches by mobile communicationusers. Once the keyword and/or key phrase frequency is known, a siterelevancy score may be derived indicating the relevance of keywords tothe content of a sponsor's website. This relevancy score may then beused to assist sponsors in managing the marketing program. A sponsor maymore easily focus their finances on keywords and/or key phrases with thegreatest relevancy to their content, while ensuring relevant terms oftheir mobile content website are also appropriately financed in themarketing program.

The marketing program may also include one or more recommendations orselections regarding bid amounts for one or more of the keywords, andterms. A key aspect of the marketing program may include advertisingwhich may include suggestions regarding advertising content, or targetURLs to be associated with the website. The suggested content may beinternal to the website, thereby incorporating advertisements withkeywords or key phrases that increase the relevance score of the mobilecontent website—likely directing more mobile communication users to thesponsor's website.

Selecting relevant terms may improve a mobile content sponsor's displayorder and amount of content displayed on a mobile communication devicedisplay 172 in response to a user's keyword search. Display order andamount of display on a mobile communication facility 102 may be based atleast in part on the relevancy of the sponsored content. For example,relevancy may be based upon a match of terms in sponsor's content withkeywords entered by a user in a query entry facility 120.

In addition to the terms derived from analyzing a mobile contentsponsor's website, the marketing plan may include additional keywordsautomatically provided by processing the terms through a thesaurus. Inaddition, the marketing plan may include sponsor entered keywords andthesaurus lookups of these keywords.

In embodiments, a mobile content website may be periodically analyzedfor changes in content for purposes of assessing the relevance ofkeywords previously generated. For example, a sponsor may update awebsite to such an extent that the website content that was previouslyassociated with keywords is no longer reliable (i.e., the updatedcontent and existing keywords no longer have high relevancy). When thisoccurs, the system may send an alert to the sponsor indicating that therelevance of the keywords is reduced and may recommend revising thekeywords being financed in the marketing program.

In embodiments, a search query may be suggested by correcting thesuggested search query based, in part, on information relating to aclient device. Once a user receives a suggested query entry 120, aprocess of correction may be necessary for unambiguous query formationthat is sufficient to yield intelligible and useful result set(s). Aspart of the correction process, information specific to the type ofmobile communication facility 102 may be used; for example, if thedevice has unique delivery capabilities, the suggested query may needcorrection in order to derive a result set compatible with thesecapabilities. Information stored in the mobile subscribercharacteristics 112 database or parental controls 150 facility may alsobe integral to the correction process.

It is possible that a suggested query returns a null result set orimprobable results set. In this case, the search facility 142, inconjunction with the mobile communication facility 102, couldautomatically trigger correction and iteratively cycle throughalternative suggested queries until a non-null or higher probabilityresult set is delivered.

In embodiments, additional recommendations may be made following asuggested query entry 120 based upon the information related to themobile communication facility 102. For example, mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, carrier business rules 130, or sponsor information,in conjunction with the suggested query entry 120, may suggest relevantrecommendations for the user. The recommendations may be paired with thesuggested query entry 120 search results or presented prior to, orfollowing, the display of the search results.

A user's prior search activities and search results may also be used tocreate recommendations for the user. Prior search activities may includetransactions, search queries, visits to websites, and other actsinitiated by the user on the mobile communication facility 102. Thegeographic location of the mobile communication facility 102 may fosterrecommendations including, but not limited to, sponsor information (e.g.products and services) in the user's current geographic vicinity. Thecurrent time may be used independently or in conjunction with otherinformation to create user recommendations. For example, the independentfact that it is noon may create recommendations for restaurants servinglunch. This information may be further filtered by the location of themobile communication facility 102 to recommend only those restaurantsthat are in the user's immediate vicinity, and it may be furtherfiltered by the subscriber's characteristics to recommend only thatsubset of restaurants serving lunch in the user's current vicinity thathave received high ratings by restaurant patrons with a demographicprofile similar to the user's. As with the above restaurant example,similar processes for generating meaningful recommendations may beapplied to other services and products, including transportation(navigation, taxis, buses, trains, cars, airports, etc.), food and drink(groceries, drive through restaurants, bars, etc.), entertainment(theater, sports, movies, clubs, etc.), business (corporations,workplaces, banks, post offices and other mailing or shippingfacilities. etc.), consumer needs (gas stations, drug or clothingstores, baby sitters, parking, etc.), and information specific to thelocale (directions, locations, starting times, news, etc.)

In embodiments, classifications of search categories may be presentedrelated to the suggested search query on a display associated with themobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a suggested query entry 120 may be mapped to a taxonomyof query categories and classification schema (e.g., the yellow pagesphone book taxonomy).

In embodiments, results may be retrieved based on submitting a suggestedquery entry 120 in conjunction with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102. This information may include the mobilesubscriber characteristics 112, carrier business rules 130, and sponsorinformation. The additional information stored in these databases mayform search parameters that limit the suggested search query and thedisplay of result set(s) by omitting information, prioritizinginformation (e.g., presenting sponsor links prior to all others),highlighting a subset of the search result set, or ordering the displayof information based upon a sponsor auction (i.e., highest bidderpresented first). In the case of the sponsor auction, sponsors may bidon keywords that they would like to be associated with their products,services, and links thereto.

In embodiments, results may be ordered in relation to the suggestedquery entry 120 based at least in part on information relating to themobile communication facility 102. This information may include mobilesubscriber characteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144,parental controls 150, carrier business rules 130, and/or sponsorinformation. Ordering results related to a suggested query entry 120based on sponsor information may be done by associating sponsors withkey words used in suggested query entries and/or associating suggestedquery entries with sponsor content. When a suggested query entry 120matches a sponsor's keyword(s) or content, that sponsor's informationmay be prioritized in the search result display, highlighted, orotherwise given superiority over other content related to the suggestedquery entry 120. Association of key words with sponsors may occurthrough an auction in which bidders compete for sole association withkeywords or for a shared frequency of keyword association (e.g., everyother occurrence of a keyword). Furthermore, the auction process couldinclude bidding to determine the size of the resulting sponsor contentdisplay (e.g., expressed as a percentage of the user's total displayspace on the mobile communication facility 102) and the option to addmultimedia content to the results display, such as graphics, audio or avideo stream.

Suggested query results may also be ordered, in part, on thecapabilities of the mobile communication facility 102, wherein thecapability is an audio, visual, processing, or screen capability.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be suggested by producingpredictive text based, at least in part, on information relating to themobile communication facility 102, such as mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144, a personal filter,parental controls 150, carrier business rules 130, or sponsorshipinformation. Additionally, predictive text may be based on the mobilecommunication facility 102's SMS conversion and/or keypad sequenceconversion.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be suggested by associating avoice-based query entry 120 with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, such as voice interpretation based, at leastin part, on SMS conversion.

In embodiments, an auction may be associated with a suggested queryentry 120. Performing the auction may involve using information relatingto the mobile communication facility 102, such as mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144, a personal filter,parental controls 150, or carrier business rules 130. The result set(s)display may prioritize or highlight sponsor results.

In embodiments, a search query may be suggested on a mobilecommunication facility 102, results presented on a screen associatedwith the mobile communication facility 102, and a transaction performedin association with a sponsored link, where the transaction may occur bythe user clicking on a sponsored link or engaging in a commercialtransaction, such as purchasing downloadable content.

In embodiments, a search query may be suggested by presenting aggregatedcontent to the mobile communication facility 102. Content may beaggregated through a spider, for example ringtone content, musiccontent, or video content. The spider may determine the compatibility ofthe content with the capabilities of the mobile communication facility102. Compatibility may be determined by running a series of mock mobilecommunication facility 102 trials and using the results to extractresults from sites on a preferred basis. The preferred basis may providefor the extraction from a WAP compatible content site first orextraction from content type sites first, where the content wasaggregated in relation to information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be suggested by displaying asponsored link on a display associated with a mobile communicationfacility 102 that allows a vendor associated with the sponsored link toselectively receive a connection or receive search results (including asponsored phone number) wherein an economic transaction takes place whenthe sponsored number is at least one of those called and answered.

In embodiments, content may be delivered to a mobile communicationfacility 102 based at least in part on information relating to themobile communication facility 102 and later produce content as a resultof a suggested search query. The content presented may be informationrelating to the location of the mobile communication facility 102, suchas restaurants, entertainment, theaters, and show times. Information mayalso relate to the time of day, mobile subscriber characteristics 112,or parental controls 150. The content may include advertisements and maybe stored locally on the mobile communication facility 102. For example,it may be cached locally with the cache memory and blended with serverupdates and/or periodically updated in the background (i.e., withoutrequiring user keystrokes) according to the time of day and/or changesin location of the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a wireless carrier report may be generated based uponthe click through performance following one or more suggested searchquery entries on a mobile communications facility. The report maycontain information relating to search result quality, keywordmanagement, or revenue generation, and it may be segmented by the typeof mobile communication facility 102 used.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be suggested in a search box of amobile communication facility 102 where the search box is presented onan idle screen.

In embodiments, a search query may be suggested related to a queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102, where the suggestion isa plurality of suggestions that may be presented on a display associatedwith the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be suggested that is entered intoa query entry 120 facility on a mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a search query may be suggested into a search facility142 that is adapted to produce results based on the mobile compatiblepage rank. The mobile compatible page rank may derive from the page'scompatibility with the screen, the processing capability of the mobilecommunication facility 102, or upon the complexity of the page(s).

In embodiments, a search query may be suggested by generating arelationship between a query entry 120 and at least one mobilesubscriber characteristic. The mobile subscriber characteristics 112 mayinclude location, personal information, history of the user's webinteractions, or a plurality of characteristics, such as location andthe time of day.

In embodiments, a search query may be suggested by generating arelationship between a query entry 120 and the location of a mobilecommunication facility 102 using a location-based service. Therelationship may be among at least one query entry 120 and the locationand a time of day. Location may be provided by a GPS system or a cellphone triangulation service.

In embodiments, a query may be suggested by producing results based atleast in part on a query entry 120 used in conjunction with a filteralgorithm, where the filter algorithm uses information gathered by awireless provider 108. The algorithm facility 144 may be a collaborativefilter where the search is an open web search, or it may be arecommendation system.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be suggested by processing a queryentry 120 through a results facility 148 where the results facility 148is associated with information derived from the mobile communicationfacility 102, such as mobile subscriber characteristics 112 information.Suggested queries and their corresponding results may adapt to changesin the popularity rank of content, the frequency of queries regardingcontent, acceleration/deceleration in query activity associated withcontent, frequency of purchases, high/low sales conversion rate, and anychange in these measures associated with content. Content may also be“de-duped” with frequent terms, such as “Tyra Banks out of 1, 2, 3,” andcategorized by title, artist, and/or a yellow pages taxonomy.

In embodiments, a search query may be suggested on the mobilecommunication facility 102. Disambiguation of the suggested query maytake place on the mobile communication facility 102 or on a serverapplication. Disambiguation may involve SMS translation, a spell checkalgorithm, a spell check table, a phonetic spelling algorithm, aphonetic spelling table, or a numeric keypad word translation.

In embodiments, query entries may be suggested on a mobile communicationfacility 102 where an original search query related to the suggestedsearch query is, in part, processed through a voice recognition facility160 residing on the mobile communication facility 102. Alternatively,the voice recognition facility 160 may reside on a remote server or inpart on the mobile communication facility 102 and in part on a server.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be suggested on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that processes the suggested query inassociation with information relating to the mobile communicationfacility 102. This information may reside locally on the mobilecommunication facility 102, or it may be stored remotely, for example,in a mobile subscriber characteristics 112 database.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be suggested on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that provides a parental control facility toregulate the results produced on the mobile communication facility 102based. The parental controls 150 may be regulated through a serverapplication or through the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be suggested on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that provides a privacy facility 152associated with the mobile communication facility 102 to protect a userfrom loss of personal or other sensitive information relating to thesearch query.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be suggested on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that provides a transactional securityfacility 154 associated with the mobile communication facility 102,where the transactional security facility 154 is adapted to enablesecure transactions associated with the query entry 120. Thetransactional security facility 154 may involve the protection ofprivacy 152 and may be operated in association with parental controls150 or digital rights management.

In embodiments, a query may be suggested by processing a query entry 120in conjunction with carrier business rules 130 and with informationrelating to a mobile communication facility 102. Carrier business rules130 may include walled garden results, presenting out of garden content,sponsor information, or auctions. Information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102 may be mobile subscriber characteristicinformation 112.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be suggested on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that produces sponsored results on thedisplay of the mobile communication facility 102. Sponsor results may bepaid inclusion results, auction results, or pay-per-click results (inconnection with a WAP site or a phone number). A sponsor of thesponsored result may receive compensation as a result of activityassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 phone number. Thepresentation of the sponsored results may be formatted as a link orpresented as text, as a picture, as a video, or as an interactiveapplication. Content may be formatted for the mobile communicationfacility 102 and relate to webpage content or links for syndicatedadvertisements.

In embodiments, additional recommendations may be made following acorrected query entry 120 based upon the information related to themobile communication facility 102. For example, mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, carrier business rules 130, or sponsor information,in conjunction with the query entry 120, may suggest relevantrecommendations for the user. The recommendations may be paired with thecorrected query entry 120 search results or presented prior to, orfollowing, the display of the search results.

A user's prior search activities and search results may also be used tocreate recommendations for the user. Prior search activities may includetransactions, search queries, visits to websites, and other actsinitiated by the user on the mobile communication facility 102. Thegeographic location of the mobile communication facility 102 may fosterrecommendations including, but not limited to, sponsor information (e.g.products and services) in the user's current geographic vicinity. Thecurrent time may be used independently or in conjunction with otherinformation to create user recommendations. For example, the independentfact that it is noon may create recommendations for restaurants servinglunch. This information may be further filtered by the location of themobile communication facility 102 to recommend only those restaurantsthat are in the user's immediate vicinity, and it may be furtherfiltered by the subscriber's characteristics to recommend only thatsubset of restaurants serving lunch in the user's current vicinity thathave received high ratings by restaurant patrons with a demographicprofile similar to the user's. As with the above restaurant example,similar processes for generating meaningful recommendations may beapplied to other services and products that may be used independently orin relationship to one another, including transportation (navigation,taxis, buses, trains, cars, airports, etc.), food and drink (groceries,drive through restaurants, bars, etc.), entertainment (theater, sports,movies, clubs, etc.), business (corporations, workplaces, banks, postoffices and other mailing or shipping facilities. etc.), consumer needs(gas stations, drug or clothing stores, baby sitters, parking, etc.),and information specific to the locale (directions, locations, startingtimes, news, etc.) By combining such information, cross-sellingopportunities may exist between products (e.g., recording artists of asimilar genre), as well as better targeting new products to users basedon predicted needs (e.g., recommending a taxi service when a userpurchases movie tickets).

In embodiments, classifications of search categories may be presentedrelated to the corrected search query on a display associated with themobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a corrected query entry 120 may be mapped to a taxonomyof query categories and classification schema (e.g., the yellow pagesphone book taxonomy).

In embodiments, results may be retrieved based on submitting a correctedquery entry 120 in conjunction with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102. This information may include the mobilesubscriber characteristics 112, carrier business rules 130, and sponsorinformation. The additional information stored in these databases mayform search parameters that limit the corrected search query and thedisplay of result set(s) by omitting information, prioritizinginformation (e.g., presenting sponsor links prior to all others),highlighting a subset of the search result set, or ordering the displayof information based upon a sponsor auction (i.e., highest bidderpresented first). In the case of the sponsor auction, sponsors may bidon keywords that they would like to be associated with their products,services, and links thereto.

In embodiments, results may be ordered in relation to the correctedquery entry 120 based at least in part on information relating to themobile communication facility 102. This information may include mobilesubscriber characteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144,parental controls 150, carrier business rules 130, and/or sponsorinformation. Ordering results related to a corrected query entry 120based on sponsor information may be done by associating sponsors withkey words used in corrected query entries and/or associating correctedquery entries with sponsor content. When a corrected query entry 120matches a sponsor's keyword(s) or content, that sponsor's informationmay be prioritized in the search result display, highlighted, orotherwise given superiority over other content related to the suggestedquery entry 120. Association of key words with sponsors may occurthrough an auction in which bidders compete for sole association withkeywords or for a shared frequency of keyword association (e.g., everyother occurrence of a keyword). Furthermore, the auction process couldinclude bidding to determine the size of the resulting sponsor contentdisplay (e.g., expressed as a percentage of the user's total displayspace on the mobile communication facility 102) and adding multimediacontent to the results display, such as graphics, audio or a videostream.

Corrected query results may also be ordered, at least in part, on thecapabilities of the mobile communication facility 102, wherein thecapability is an audio, visual, processing, or screen capability.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be corrected by producingpredictive text based, at least in part, on information relating to themobile communication facility 102, such as mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144, a personal filter,parental controls 150, carrier business rules 130, or sponsorshipinformation. Additionally, predictive text may be based on the mobilecommunication facility's 102 SMS conversion and/or keypad sequenceconversion.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be corrected by associating avoice-based query entry 120 with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, such as voice interpretation based, at leastin part, on SMS conversion.

In embodiments, an auction may be associated with a corrected queryentry 120. Performing the auction may involve using information relatingto the mobile communication facility 102, for example mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144, a personal filter,parental controls 150, or carrier business rules 130. The result set(s)display may prioritize or highlight sponsor results.

In embodiments, a search query may be corrected on a mobilecommunication facility 102, presenting results on a screen associatedwith the mobile communication facility 102 and performing a transactionin association with a sponsored link, where the transaction may occur bythe user clicking on a sponsored link or engaging in a commercialtransaction, such as purchasing downloadable content.

In embodiments, a search query may be corrected by presenting aggregatedcontent to the mobile communication facility 102. Content may beaggregated through a spider, for example ringtone content, musiccontent, or video content. The spider may determine the compatibility ofthe content with the capabilities of the mobile communication facility102. Compatibility may be determined by running a series of mock mobilecommunication facility 102 trials and using the results to extractresults from sites on a preferred basis. The preferred basis may providefor the extraction from a WAP compatible content site first orextraction from content type sites first, where the content wasaggregated in relation to information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be corrected by displaying asponsored link on a display associated with a mobile communicationfacility 102 that allows a vendor associated with the sponsored link toselectively receive a connection or receive search results (including asponsored phone number) wherein an economic transaction takes place whenthe sponsored number is at least one of those called and answered.

In embodiments, content may be delivered to a mobile communicationfacility 102 based at least in part on information relating to themobile communication facility 102 and later producing the content as theresult of a corrected search query. The content presented may beinformation relating to the location of the mobile communicationfacility 102, such as restaurants, entertainment, theaters, and showtimes. Information may also relate to the time of day, mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, or parental controls 150. The content may includeadvertisements and may be stored locally on the mobile communicationfacility 102 (e.g., in the cache memory) and periodically updatedaccording to the time of day and/or changes in location of the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, a wireless carrier report may be generated based uponthe click through performance following one or more corrected searchquery entries on a mobile communication facility 102. The report maycontain information relating to search result quality, keywordmanagement, revenue generation, and it may be segmented by the type ofmobile communication facility 102 used.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be corrected in a search box of amobile communication facility 102 where the search box is presented onan idle screen.

In embodiments, a search query may be corrected in relation to a queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102, where the correction isa plurality of corrections that may be presented on a display associatedwith the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be corrected that is entered intoa query entry 120 facility on a mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a search query may be corrected in a search facility 142that is adapted to produce results based on the mobile compatible pagerank. The mobile compatible page rank may derive from the page'scompatibility with the screen, the processing capability of the mobilecommunication facility 102, or upon the complexity of the page(s).

In embodiments, a search query may be corrected by generating arelationship between a query entry 120 and at least one mobilesubscriber characteristic. The mobile subscriber characteristics 112 mayinclude location, personal information, history of the user's webinteractions, or a plurality of characteristics, such as location andthe time of day.

In embodiments, a search query may be corrected by generating arelationship between a query entry 120 and the location of a mobilecommunication facility 102 using a location-based service. Therelationship may be among at least one query entry 120 and the locationand a time of day. Location may be provided by a GPS system or a cellphone triangulation service. In embodiments, the mobile communicationfacility 102 may have location services that permit a facility'slocation to be used as a parameter during the query formation process.The interface may allow a user to either use the detected facilitylocation or override the location.

In embodiments, a query may be corrected by producing results based atleast in part on a query entry 120 used in conjunction with a filteralgorithm, where the filter algorithm uses information gathered by awireless provider 108. The algorithm facility 144 may be a collaborativefilter where the search is an open web search, or it may be arecommendation system.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be corrected by processing a queryentry 120 through a results facility 148 where the results facility 148is associated with information derived from the mobile communicationfacility 102, such as mobile subscriber characteristics 112 information.

In embodiments, a search query may be corrected on the mobilecommunication facility 102. Disambiguation of the corrected query maytake place on the mobile communication facility 102 or on a serverapplication. Disambiguation may involve SMS translation, a spell checkalgorithm, a spell check table, a phonetic spelling algorithm, aphonetic spelling table, or a numeric keypad word translation

In embodiments, query entries may be corrected on a mobile communicationfacility 102 where an original search query related to the correctedsearch query is, in part, processed through a voice recognition facility160 residing on the mobile communication facility 102. Alternatively,the voice recognition facility 160 may reside on a remote server or inpart on the mobile communication facility 102 and in part on a server.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be corrected on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that processes the corrected query inassociation with information relating to the mobile communicationfacility 102. This information may reside locally on the mobilecommunication facility 102, or it may be stored remotely, for example,in a mobile subscriber characteristics 112 database.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be corrected on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that provides a parental control facility toregulate the results produced on the mobile communication facility 102based. The parental controls 150 may be regulated through a serverapplication or through the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be corrected on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that provides a privacy facility 152associated with the mobile communication facility 102 to protect a userfrom loss of personal or other sensitive information relating to thesearch query.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be corrected on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that provides a transactional securityfacility 154 associated with the mobile communication facility 102,where the transactional security facility 154 is adapted to enablesecure transactions associated with the query entry 120. Thetransactional security facility 154 may involve the protection ofprivacy 152 and may be operated in association with parental controls150 or digital rights management.

In embodiments, a query may be corrected by processing a query entry 120in conjunction with carrier business rules 130 and with informationrelating to a mobile communication facility 102. Carrier business rules130 may include walled garden results, presenting out of garden content,sponsor information, or auctions. Information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102 may be mobile subscriber characteristicinformation.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be corrected on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that produces sponsored results on thedisplay of the mobile communication facility 102. Sponsor results may bepaid inclusion results, auction results, or pay-per-click results (inconnection with a WAP site or a phone number). A sponsor of thesponsored result may receive compensation as a result of activityassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 phone number. Thepresentation of the sponsored results may be formatted as a link orpresented as text, as a picture, as a video, or as an interactiveapplication. Content may be formatted for the mobile communicationfacility 102 and relate to webpage content or links for syndicatedadvertisements. In embodiments, a variety of content types may beaccommodated, including maps/traffic: (checking the latest accidentreports and road conditions); shopping comparison (search, browse andcompare prices of merchants); PIM data (PIM data can be found, numberscalled with a single click, and address books updated); white pages(find addresses and phone numbers from your mobile phone); news,weather, and sports (get up to the minute information on the go);multimedia content (search and preview video); movies (find a movie,show time, theater and purchase tickets); travel updates/flightinformation (check your flight status and more); RSS & Blogs (search andread RSS feeds and blogs); adult (Find mature content).

In embodiments, the mobile communication facility 102 may be able todisplay certain Internet content without having to launch a WAP browser.In such cases, content may be directly displayed. Such content mayoptionally receive a preferential ranking, particularly on devices withrelatively slow processing of WAP content.

In embodiments, content may be recommended in relation to a search queryon a mobile communication facility 102 where the recommendation ispresented in classifications of search categories. The recommendationmay optionally specify the category rather than particular results.

Described herein are systems and methods for searching and searchresults categorization that are advantageously adapted for mobile use. Amobile communication facility 102 may be used to place a search queryand to receive the search results. Search results may be orderedaccording to categories. Categories used for ordering may comprise asingle category or a plurality of categories.

In embodiments, a search query received by a mobile communicationfacility 102 may yield search results that may be categorized into atleast one category. The category may then be subject to further verticalsearching, by reference to additional search categories. For example, asearch performed for restaurants using a mobile communication facility102 may yield a listing of restaurants that may then be furthercategorized according to ethnicity. After performing an initial searchfor restaurants, the user of the mobile communication facility 102 maythen select the category of Chinese food, and use that category tofilter the initial search results. Resulting from that categorizedsearch may be a list of Chinese restaurants. Selecting one of therestaurants in the list may then allow the user to seek furtherinformation about that restaurant using categories that may be appliedto that restaurant, such as location, hours of operation, sample menus,reviews of the restaurant, news clips about the restaurant and its chef,directions to the restaurant, and the like. The user may be able tointeract with the restaurant in real time by means of the mobilecommunication facility 102, using categories representing suchinteractions, for example, to make reservations, to chat with restaurantpersonnel, to obtain information about items on the menu or to receivenews about the restaurant.

A plurality of search categories may be available at a particular levelin a vertical search. Similarly, a plurality of search levels may beavailable. In addition, searches along one vertical may extend out ofthe vertical to permit horizontal searching. In reviewing informationprovided about the Chinese restaurant above, the user may select the“Chef” category to learn more about the chef and his background. Theuser may then discover that the chef has received traditional trainingin French cuisine in New York. The user may then be presented withcategories for further searching. One of the categories, “Frenchcuisine,” may redirect the user's search laterally to identifyinformation pertinent to French cuisine. Another category presented atthe same level as “French cuisine” may be “New York restaurants.”Selecting this category may redirect the user to search results listingNew York restaurants, or New York French restaurants. Another searchcategory, presented at the same level, may direct the user to theparticular restaurant where the chef trained, so that the user may drilldown to search for information about the restaurant, its menu, itscurrent executive chef, its menu, or its wine pairings recommendations.Within the new search, the category “wine” may further direct or refocusa search so that the user may look for information about wines served atthe restaurant, about suggested wine pairings, or about the sommelierand her background. Those of ordinary skill may appreciate the potentialrange of search strategies available based on categories presented tothe mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, the search result categories may be presented usingwords or graphic representations such as icons or other images. A searchusing the term “Boston” may yield a list of Boston-associated resultsthat may then be further organized into categories such as travel,lodging, shopping, sightseeing, business, entertainment and the like.The search results may be accompanied by a numerical sign indicating thenumber of results in a particular category. Each of these categories maybe represented by a title or by an icon on the screen of the mobilecommunication facility 102. The user may designate one category forfurther searching by interacting with the title or icon, whether bytouchpad, touchscreen, cursor or other selection device. By clicking onan airplane icon, for example, a user may be presented with the names ofairports within reasonable distance of Boston, e.g., LoganInternational, Providence, Hartford, Bedford, etc. If the user selectsone of these airport titles, she may be presented with a list of onlinetravel services that permit airline reservations to be made toProvidence airport, for example. The individual results within thecategory may be associated with hyperlinks so that the user may bedirected to a reservation center for a particular airline whosehyperlink he clicks. Hyperlinks may also allow a segmentation of searchresults into subcategories. For example, clicking on the title of anairport may produce two category choices, one for conventional carriersand one for budget carriers. Each category presented to the usercontains a hyperlink or a plurality of hyperlinks that may connect to alisting of airlines within that category.

Furthermore, in embodiments, the search results and the categoriespresented to the user may be sorted based on relevancy. The relevancymay be explicitly defined for a particular user. The relevancy may alsobe based on information relating to past user content interactions. Atraveler whose business trips have previously included travel on acertain set of airlines, car rental through a certain set of rentalagencies, accommodations at a certain set of hotels, and dining at acertain type of restaurant may receive information about travel toBoston that prioritizes the same airlines, car rental agencies, hotelchains and restaurant types. In embodiments, a particular search may betitled so that the search results may be saved or recognized in thefuture.

In embodiments, the category of search results presented to the mobilecommunication facility 102 may be the one containing the largest numberof results. A user looking for household movers may want her search toprovide the largest possible selection of movers. She may then wish tosort through them on the basis of other categorizing methods, includingprice, Better Business Bureau ratings, published consumer ratings, andthe like. In other embodiments, the presented category may be the onewith the fewest results. A search for an emergency room mayadvantageously have a number of filtering characteristics incorporatedso that the search yields a very short list of facilities that arenearby, for example, and that are able to deal with the particularcondition that afflicts the user.

A search conducted on a mobile communication facility 102 may provide ageneral list of results that require further categorization. The usersearching “travel Boston” may obtain a list of related results that fallinto a number of different categories, for example, lodging,entertainment, shopping and the like. In embodiments, a set ofcategories may be suggested, such as the aforesaid, for organizing thesearch results. The suggested categories may be listed in words orthrough images. The categories may then be further subcategorized. Forexample, the search results may be refined by clicking on a “lodging”icon. The category of “lodging” may then be further categorizedaccording to price, for example. There may be approximate room rateslisted as categories, or there may be general descriptors, such aseconomy, midrange, expensive and luxury. The user who selects the luxurycategory may further search based on features typically associated withluxury accommodations, such as room features, extra services, propertyattributes, associated amenities (spa, golf, etc.) and the like; suchfeatures would be suggested and sorted for when the user selects theluxury category. It would be understood that a user selecting theeconomy category would be able to sort based on different features thatwould pertain to that type of accommodation.

Search results categorized according to the systems and methodsdescribed herein may be organized according to a hierarchy, a taxonomyor any user-defined set of prioritizations. In embodiments, thesesystems and methods permit searching and search categories to beretrieved and ordered on a mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility and search results may be presented back to the mobilecommunication facility in categories or groupings.

The categories or groupings may be presented in an order according to arelevance to a parameter, such as a wireless provider parameter, mobilecommunication facility parameter, user characteristics parameter, mobilesubscriber characteristic, transaction parameter, user historyparameter, location parameter, parameter associated with the searchquery, parameter related to available content, parameter related to anadvertiser or sponsor, parameter related to transactionable content,parameter related to purchasable content or other parameter.

For example, a user may search for the term “Britney Spears” and thesearch results may be presented in categories such as music, images, andnews. Understanding that the search query relates to a famous singer thecategories may be ordered such that the music category is presentedfirst. In embodiments, one of the categories, such as music, may belisted first based on a wireless provider parameter suggesting that theprovider has music downloads for sale and would like to post them first.Similarly, the order of the categories may be based on a sponsorparameter. For example, a sponsor may bid on placement of categories andwinning bidders may effect the ordering of the categories.

Once a category is presented to the mobile communication facility, theuser may select the category and view results within the category. Inembodiments, there may be a sub layer of categories to produce a nestingeffect.

In embodiments, the categories may be presented to the mobilecommunication facility while results within the categories arecontinuing to download to the mobile communication facility. Inembodiments, the results may continue to be downloaded to the mobilecommunication facility. A user may open a category to reveal resultswhile new results continue to be downloaded. For example, the resultsmay be associated with images, previews, snippets, samples and the likeand this portions may be downloaded as the user begins to view theresults.

In embodiments, a search query may be mapped to a query classificationof category taxonomies (e.g., yellow page taxonomies) and recommendcontent related to the mapped search query.

In embodiments, results may be retrieved based on a search query inconjunction with information relating to the mobile communicationfacility 102. This information may include the mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, carrier business rules 130, and sponsorinformation. The additional information stored in these databases mayform search parameters that limit the suggested search query and thedisplay of result set(s) by omitting information, prioritizinginformation (e.g., presenting sponsor links prior to all others),highlighting a subset of the search result set, or ordering the displayof information based upon a sponsor auction (i.e., highest bidderpresented first). In the case of the sponsor auction, sponsors may bidon keywords that they would like to be associated with their products,services, and links thereto.

In embodiments, results may be recommended based on a search query byordering the recommended results based, in part, on information relatingto the mobile communication facility 102. This information may includemobile subscriber characteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144,parental controls 150, carrier business rules 130, and/or sponsorinformation. Ordering recommended results related to a corrected searchquery entry 120 based on sponsor information may be done by associatingsponsors with key words used in search query entries and/or associatingquery entries with sponsor content. When a corrected query entry 120matches a sponsor's keyword(s) or content, that sponsor's informationmay be prioritized in the search result display, highlighted, orotherwise given visual superiority or other preferential ranking overother content related to the corrected query entry 120. Association ofkey words with sponsors may occur through an auction in which bidderscompete for sole association with keywords or for a shared frequency ofkeyword association (e.g., every other occurrence of a keyword).Furthermore, the auction process could include bidding to determine thesize of the resulting sponsor content display (e.g., expressed as apercentage of the user's total display space on the mobile communicationfacility 102) and adding multimedia content to the results display, suchas graphics, audio, or a video stream.

Recommended results based on a search query may also be ordered, inpart, on the capabilities of the mobile communication facility 102,wherein the capability is an audio, visual, processing, or screencapability.

In embodiments, one or more results detail pages may display 172expanded item information to assist a user in making a purchasedecision. This may include, for example, content that is available insource metadata. The content on these pages may vary based on type, butshare a number of common elements. For example, an artist name may bepresented with a link to an artist search, a detailed item description,and/or a preview image if available. Furthermore, a list of the subtypes (for example, for “Music” an item may be available as a Ringtone,Ringback, MOD, MP3, Video, etc) and an option to purchase these items.Related content may be offered to users seeking to browse similar items.

In embodiments, results pages may display 172 a hint-of-the-day of theday and/or other promotional content may be displayed to communicatewith users. The content for this screen may derive from server callsmade during idle time in the application. That is, during periods ofinactivity, the device may periodically download content based uponprior implicit or explicit searches, and display the content at randomor preselected times. The content may consist of a combination of textand images.

In embodiments, content may be recommended by producing predictive textbased, at least in part, on information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, such as mobile subscriber characteristics112, a search algorithm facility 144, a personal filter, parentalcontrols 150, carrier business rules 130, or sponsorship information.Additionally, predictive text may be based on the mobile communicationfacility's 102 SMS conversion and/or keypad sequence conversion.

In embodiments, a search query may be processed through a voicerecognition facility 160 and a recommendation made in association withinformation about a mobile communication facility 102. For example, thevoice recognition facility 160 may be employed to search for aparticular restaurant. Based upon previous calls to other restaurants, arecommendation may be made for alternative restaurants of the same foodgenre in the user's area, or a suggestion may be made that the user istrying to find a restaurant with a similar-sounding name that the userhas called before.

In embodiments, an auction may be performed related to a search query.Performing the auction may involve using information relating to themobile communication facility 102, for example mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144, a personal filter,parental controls 150, or carrier business rules 130. The result set(s)display may prioritize or highlight sponsor results.

In embodiments, alternative content may be recommended that is relatedto search results received through a mobile communication search, and atransaction related to the alternative content may be performed. Thetransaction may occur by the user clicking on a sponsored link orengaging in a commercial transaction, such as purchasing downloadablecontent.

In embodiments, recommendations of alternate content may be aggregatedin relation to search results associated with a mobile communicationsearch query. Content, for example ringtone content, music content, orvideo content, may be aggregated through a spider. The spider maydetermine the compatibility of the content with the capabilities of themobile communication facility 102. Compatibility may be determined byrunning a series of mock mobile communication facility 102 trials andusing the results to extract results from sites on a preferred basis.The preferred basis may provide for extraction from a WAP compatiblecontent site first or extraction from content type sites first, wherethe content was aggregated in relation to information relating to themobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, alternate content may be recommended that is related tosearch results associated with a mobile communication query 120, wherethe content is associated with outbound pay per call marketing.

In embodiments, content may be downloaded that is related to informationassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 by making arecommendation of alternate content related to the downloaded content.The content presented may be information relating to the location of themobile communication facility 102, such as restaurants, entertainment,theaters, and show times. Information may also relate to the time ofday, mobile subscriber characteristics 112, or parental controls 150.The content may include advertisements and may be stored locally on themobile communication facility 102 (e.g., in the cache memory) andperiodically updated according to the time of day and/or changes inlocation of the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a wireless carrier report may be generated based uponthe click through performance of recommended alternate content. Thereport may contain information relating to search result quality,keyword management, or revenue generation, and it may be segmented bythe type of mobile communication facility 102 used.

In embodiments, alternative content may be recommended in relation to anopen web search result on a mobile communication facility 102. Thealternative content may be ringtones, music, video, and downloadablecontent or purchasable downloadable content.

In embodiments, a query may be entered in a query entry 120 facilityassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 and presentrecommended alternative content relating to results received.

In embodiments, content may be recommended in relation to search resultsassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 query, where thealternative content is based at least in part on mobile compatible pagerank. The mobile compatible page rank may derive from the page'scompatibility with the screen, processing capability of the mobilecommunication facility 102, or upon the complexity of the page(s).

In embodiments, alternative content may be recommended in relation tosearch results associated with a mobile communication facility 102query, where the alternative content is provided by a data facility(e.g., a WAP facility or a carrier facility).

In embodiments, content may be recommended in relation to search resultsassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 query, where therecommendation is, in part, related to a mobile subscribercharacteristic. The mobile subscriber characteristics 112 may includelocation, personal information, history of the user's web interactions,phone calls, or a plurality of characteristics, such as location and thetime of day.

In embodiments, alternative content may be recommended in relation tosearch results and providing recommendations based, in part, on thelocation of a mobile communication facility 102 using a location-basedservice. The relationship may be among at least one query entry 120 andthe location and a time of day. Location may be provided by a GPS systemor a cell phone triangulation service.

In embodiments, alternative content may be recommended in relation tosearch results based at least in part on a query entry 120 used inconjunction with a filter algorithm, where the filter algorithm usesinformation gathered by a wireless provider 108. The algorithm facility144 may be a collaborative filter where the search is an open websearch, or it may be a recommendation system.

In embodiments, alternative content may be recommended in relation tosearch results associated with a mobile communication facility 102query. Content may be received from a result facility based on aselected recommendation. The results facility 148 may be associated withinformation derived from the mobile communication facility 102, such asmobile subscriber characteristics 112 information.

In embodiments, alternative content may be recommended in relation tosearch results associated with a mobile communication facility 102 querythrough a mobile browser facility.

In embodiments, alternative content may be recommended in relation tosearch results associated with a mobile communication facility 102based, in part, on a disambiguated search query using a disambiguationfacility 140. Disambiguation of the suggested query may take place onthe mobile communication facility 102 or on a server application.Disambiguation may involve SMS translation, a spell check algorithm, aspell check table, a phonetic spelling algorithm, a phonetic spellingtable, or a numeric keypad word translation

In embodiments, alternative content may be recommended in relation tosearch results where an original search query is processed through avoice recognition facility 160 residing on the mobile communicationfacility 102. Alternatively, the voice recognition facility 160 mayreside on a remote server or in part on the mobile communicationfacility 102 and in part on a server.

In embodiments, alternative content may be recommended in relation tosearch results on a mobile communication facility 102 that processes aquery in association with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102. This information may reside locally on themobile communication facility 102 or it may be stored remotely, forexample in a mobile subscriber characteristics 112 database.

In embodiments, alternative content may be recommended in relation tosearch results on a mobile communication facility 102 that provides aparental control facility to regulate the results produced on the mobilecommunication facility 102 based. The parental controls 150 may beregulated through a server application or through the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, alternative content may be recommended in relation tosearch results on a mobile communication facility 102 that provides aprivacy facility 152 associated with the mobile communication facility102 to protect a user from loss of personal or other sensitiveinformation relating to the search query.

In embodiments, alternative transactional content may be recommended inrelation to search results on a mobile communication facility 102 thatprovides a transactional security facility 154 associated with themobile communication facility 102. The transactional security facility154 may be adapted to enable secure transactions associated with thealternative transactional content. The transactional security facility154 may involve the protection of privacy 152 and may be operated inassociation with parental controls 150 or digital rights management.

In embodiments, alternative content may be recommended in relation tosearch results in conjunction with carrier business rules 130 and withinformation relating to a mobile communication facility 102. Carrierbusiness rules 130 may include walled garden results, presenting out ofgarden content, sponsor information, or auctions. Information relatingto the mobile communication facility 102 may be mobile subscribercharacteristic information.

In embodiments, alternative content may be recommended in relation tosearch results on a mobile communication facility 102 that producessponsored results on the display of the mobile communication facility102. Sponsor results may be paid inclusion results, auction results, orpay-per-click results (in connection with a WAP site or a phone number).A sponsor of the sponsored result may receive compensation as a resultof activity associated with a mobile communication facility 102 phonenumber. The presentation of the sponsored results may be formatted as alink or presented as text, as a picture, as a video, or as aninteractive application. Content may be formatted for the mobilecommunication facility 102 and relate to webpage content or links forsyndicated advertisements.

In embodiments, a search query entry 120 may be mapped to a taxonomy ofquery categories and classification schema (e.g., the yellow pages phonebook taxonomy).

In embodiments, a search query entered on a mobile communicationsfacility may be classified in conjunction with information relating tothe mobile communication facility 102. This information may include themobile subscriber characteristics 112, carrier business rules 130, andsponsor information. The additional information stored in thesedatabases may form search parameters that limit the search query and thedisplay of result set(s) by omitting information, prioritizinginformation (e.g., presenting sponsor links prior to all others),highlighting a subset of the search result set, or ordering the displayof information based upon a sponsor auction (i.e., highest bidderpresented first). In the case of the sponsor auction, sponsors may bidon keywords that they would like to be associated with their products,services, and links thereto.

In embodiments, a query may be to classify, order and display results ona mobile communication facility 102 associated with the classifiedquery. This information may include mobile subscriber characteristics112, a search algorithm facility 144, parental controls 150, carrierbusiness rules 130, and/or sponsor information. Ordering results relatedto a classified query entry 120 based on sponsor information may be doneby associating sponsors with key words used in classified query entriesand/or associating classified query entries with sponsor content. When aclassified query entry 120 matches a sponsor's keyword(s) or content,that sponsor's information may be prioritized in the search resultdisplay, highlighted, or otherwise given superiority over other contentrelated to the classified query entry 120. Association of key words withsponsors may occur through an auction in which bidders compete for soleassociation with keywords or for a shared frequency of keywordassociation (e.g., every other occurrence of a keyword). Furthermore,the auction process could include bidding to determine the size of theresulting sponsor content display (e.g., expressed as a percentage ofthe user's total display space on the mobile communication facility 102)and the adding of multimedia content to the results displayed, such asgraphics, audio or a video stream.

Classified query results may also be ordered, in part, on thecapabilities of the mobile communication facility 102, wherein thecapability is an audio, visual, processing, or screen capability.

In embodiments, searching may be performed using keyword formationand/or vertical selection. For example, a search may be performed usingexactly what is entered into the text box. Alternatively, a user mayenter characters to receive keyword completion suggestions that span theavailable verticals, and/or pick a vertical for specific categorysuggestions. The user may select a vertical by using the up and downdirectionals, then press select or right to move into that vertical.Pressing left at any time moves the user to the previous screen(excluding when the previous screen was the splash screen or thehint/promo screen).

In embodiments, once a user has selected a vertical and enterscharacters into the text entry box, suggestions appropriate to thatvertical may be displayed. These suggestions come from the local cacheif any previous suggestion matches the entered string, or the remoteserver if the local cache cannot provide all the suggestions for theentered string. Once the user has found a suggestion that they wish touse, or selects “Search” from the menu, a query is sent to the serverand the view may be switched to a results categories screen.

In embodiments, a search query may be classified into a category byproducing predictive text based, in part, on information relating to themobile communication facility 102, such as mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144, a personal filter,parental controls 150, carrier business rules 130, or sponsorshipinformation. Additionally, predictive text may be based on the mobilecommunication facility's 102 SMS conversion and/or keypad sequenceconversion.

In embodiments, a search query may be classified by associating avoice-based query entry 120 with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, such as voice interpretation based, at leastin part, on SMS conversion.

In embodiments, a search query may be classified and an auctionperformed in relation to the class. Performing the auction may involveusing information relating to the mobile communication facility 102,such as mobile subscriber characteristics 112, a search algorithmfacility 144, a personal filter, parental controls 150, or carrierbusiness rules 130. The result set(s) display may prioritize orhighlight sponsor results.

In embodiments, a search query may be classified on a mobilecommunication facility 102, results presented on a screen associatedwith the mobile communication facility 102, and a transaction performedin association with a sponsored link, where the transaction may occur bythe user clicking on a sponsored link or engaging in a commercialtransaction, such as purchasing downloadable content. Alternatively, thetransaction may also be a non-economic transaction.

In embodiments, a search query may be classified on a mobilecommunication facility 102 by aggregating results within theclassification. Content, for example ringtone content, music content, orvideo content, may be aggregated through a spider. The spider maydetermine the compatibility of the content with the capabilities of themobile communication facility 102. Compatibility may be determined byrunning a series of mock mobile communication facility 102 trials andusing the results to extract results from sites on a preferred basis.The preferred basis may provide for the extraction from a WAP compatiblecontent site first or extraction from content type sites first, wherethe content was aggregated in relation to information relating to themobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a search query may be classified and entered on a mobilecommunication facility 102 associating at least one result within asearch with an outbound PPC.

In embodiments, when results are returned from the server, they may begrouped into categories. Once the user selects a category, the view maybe switched to the results listing page. In embodiments, the resultslisting page may be a list of all the items in a specific category. Thelisting may be presented in an expanded or an unexpanded items mode,where the unexpanded items show only the results title, while theexpanded items mode contains a small description of the result as wellas an action bar that provides specific functionality for a result. Withthe exception of more information action, which displays the resultdetails page, the actions available on the results listing page areavailable on the more information page. A result expanded view mayappear when the user has paused on a particular title for short durationfor the purpose of helping the user decide whether to take action on theitem, seek more information about the item, or move onto the next item.When the item first expands, pressing right moves to the moreinformation page and pressing down moves the focus into the action bar,selecting the first action. Pressing down moves the focus into theaction bar, and pressing up again returns to the title bar. If down ispressed while in the action bar, the item reverts to its unexpanded viewand focus is moved to the result below.

In embodiments, the item details page may provide further informationabout the item, as well as the ability to perform actions from theaction bar and specialized functionality. Pressing left at this screenmay return the user to the item listings page. Pressing down first putsthe focus in the action bar, and then scrolls down the page if there isfurther content to be displayed. This further content may consist ofstatic text as well as dynamic content.

In embodiments, an action bar may provide functionality to be performedon an item on both the results listing page and the results detail page.These actions may include: buy, preview, call, and more information.With the exception of more information, which displays the item detailspage, the actions may be available both on the result listings page aswell as the item details page. Pressing left and right inside the actionbar moves focus between actions. Pressing up and down moves focus fromthe action bar to whatever item is above or below. Pressing select mayexecute the action or display a confirmation screen. If a confirmationscreen is displayed, pressing select may then execute the action andpressing left may return to the previous screen.

In embodiments, the search history may provide a means of navigating tothe results of specific queries that have been performed in the past.Pressing select on a search history item may perform a search query withthe elements of the original search and display the results.

In embodiments, there may be application background activity performed,such as a throbber, suggestions, results, previews, and ahint-of-the-day and/or other promotional material. A throbber refers toa graphical notification to the user that data traffic is occurring andthat the screen will change as more content is received. In general, athrobber indicates data retrieval in the following ways: On thesuggestion screen, the throbber may run until all suggestions are fullydownloaded; on the results categories screen until the full list ofcategories have been received; on a results listing screen the throbbermay run until all results, minus previews, are downloaded. The throbbermay also run while an audio or video preview is being downloaded oncethe user has selected the Preview action from the Action Bar.

Suggestions may be retrieved from the cache on text entry input. If thecache cannot provide a full list of suggestions, a request may be sentto the server. These updated suggestions may then be cached to speed upfuture suggestion queries. Independent of the suggestions retrieved fromthe cache and server are the suggestions provided by searching thePersonal Information Manager (PIM) data. This may include Contacts,Events, and Notes entries. The suggestion cache may also be updatedduring idle time by asking the server for an updated set of suggestionsto store in the cache. Idle time may be defined as any point at whichthe application is running but not making other HTTP requests.

Results may be downloaded when the user requests the list of results.The results may come in two parts, a categories header and the resultsbody. The header may be parsed first to show users the categories inwhich their results will return, and then each result entry placed intoone or more of those categories.

Previews may be downloaded in one of two ways: a direct user request(e.g. the user pressing play on a preview), or pre-fetching after theresult stream has ended. If the user has not directly requested thepreview to be downloaded, the throbber may not be animated and the usermay have no indication that the preview is being fetched in thebackground.

The hint-of-the-day or other promotional content may be downloadedduring idle time of the application. This content may consist of textand/or images that are saved to the phone's memory for display on thenext time the application launches.

In embodiments, content may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102 based, in part, on information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, classifying a search query, and displayingthe results within the search query class(es). The content presented maybe information relating to the location of the mobile communicationfacility 102, such as restaurants, entertainment, theaters, and showtimes. Information may also relate to the time of day, mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, or parental controls 150. The content may includeadvertisements and may be stored locally on the mobile communicationfacility 102 (e.g., in the cache memory) and periodically updatedaccording to the time of day and/or changes in location of the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, a wireless carrier report may be generated based uponthe click through performance of classified search queries on a mobilecommunications facility. The report may contain information relating tosearch result quality, keyword management, or revenue generation, and itmay be segmented by the type of mobile communication facility 102 used.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be entered in a search box of amobile communication facility 102 and the search may be classified priorto executing any searches. Optionally, the search may be executedagainst the class, or search results may be filtered against the class,or the user may be presented with an option to refine or alter thesearch based upon the classification. The result may be a single classor a plurality of classes. More generally, the search query may beclassified in relation to a query entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102.

In embodiments, a search query may be classified and entered on a mobilecommunication facility 102 and the classified search query may beprocessed through a search algorithm facility 144.

In embodiments, a search query may be classified and entered on a mobilecommunication facility 102; content produced may be related to theclassified search query from a data facility. The data facility may be,for example, a WAP facility or a carrier facility.

In embodiments, a search query may be classified by generating arelationship between a query entry 120 and at least one mobilesubscriber characteristic. The mobile subscriber characteristics 112 mayinclude location, personal information, history of the user's webinteractions, or a plurality of characteristics, such as location andthe time of day.

In embodiments, a search query may be classified by generating arelationship between a classified query entry 120 and the location of amobile communication facility 102 using a location-based service. Therelationship may be among at least one query entry 120 and the locationand a time of day. Location may be provided by a GPS system or a cellphone triangulation service.

In embodiments, a query may be classified based, in part, on associatinga classified query entry 120 with a filter algorithm, where the filteralgorithm uses information gathered by a wireless provider 108. Thealgorithm facility 144 may be a collaborative filter where the search isan open web search, or it may be a recommendation system.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be classified and content receivedfrom a result facility based on the categorized search query, where theresult facility is associated with information derived from the mobilecommunication facility 102, such as mobile subscriber characteristics112 information.

In embodiments, a search query may be classified and entered on a mobilecommunication facility 102, where the classified search query isassociated with a mobile browser facility.

In embodiments, a search query may be classified on the mobilecommunication facility 102. Disambiguation of the classified query maytake place on the mobile communication facility 102 or on a serverapplication. Disambiguation may involve SMS translation, a spell checkalgorithm, a spell check table, a phonetic spelling algorithm, aphonetic spelling table, or a numeric keypad word translation.

In embodiments, a search query may be classified on a mobilecommunication facility 102 where an original search query is processedthrough a voice recognition facility 160 residing on the mobilecommunication facility 102. Alternatively, the voice recognitionfacility 160 may reside on a remote server or in part on the mobilecommunication facility 102 and in part on a server.

In embodiments, a search query may be classified and entered on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that processes the suggested query inassociation with information relating to the mobile communicationfacility 102. This information may reside locally on the mobilecommunication facility 102, or it may be stored remotely in a datafacility, for example in a mobile subscriber characteristics 112database.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be classified on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that provides a parental control facility toregulate the results produced on the mobile communication facility 102based. The parental controls 150 may be regulated through a serverapplication or through the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a search query may be classified on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that provides a privacy facility 152 toprotect a user from loss of personal or other sensitive informationrelating to the search query category. The privacy facility 152 may beadapted to protect information during a transaction.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be classified on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that provides a transactional securityfacility 154 that is adapted to enable secure transactions associatedwith the query entry 120 classification. The transactional securityfacility 154 may involve the protection of privacy 152 and may beoperated in association with parental controls 150 or digital rightsmanagement.

In embodiments, a query may be classified by processing a query entry120 in conjunction with carrier business rules 130 and with informationrelating to a mobile communication facility 102. Carrier business rules130 may include walled content garden results, presenting out of gardencontent, sponsor information, or auctions. Information relating to themobile communication facility 102 may be mobile subscribercharacteristic information.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be classified on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that is based, in part, on an interactionwith a sponsor facility. Sponsor results may be paid inclusion results,auction results, or pay-per-click results (in connection with a WAP siteor a phone number). A sponsor of the sponsored result may receivecompensation as a result of activity associated with a mobilecommunication facility 102 phone number. The presentation of thesponsored results may be formatted as a link or presented as text, as apicture, as a video, or as an interactive application. Content may beformatted for the mobile communication facility 102 and relate towebpage content or links for syndicated advertisements.

In embodiments, results may be retrieved based on keyword mapping aquery entry 120 in conjunction with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102. This information may include the mobilesubscriber characteristics 112, carrier business rules 130, and sponsorinformation. The additional information stored in these databases mayform search parameters that limit the keyword mapped search query andthe display of result set(s) by omitting information, prioritizinginformation (e.g., presenting sponsor links prior to all others),highlighting a subset of the search result set, or ordering the displayof information based upon a sponsor auction (i.e., highest bidderpresented first). In the case of the sponsor auction, sponsors may bidon keywords that they would like to be associated with their products,services, and links thereto.

In embodiments, a search query may be keyword mapped and entered on amobile communications facility, ordering and displaying results on amobile communication facility 102 associated with the mapped query. Thisinformation may include mobile subscriber characteristics 112, a searchalgorithm facility 144, parental controls 150, carrier business rules130, and/or sponsor information. Results related to a mapped query entry120 based on sponsor information may be ordered by associating sponsorswith key words used in mapped query entries and/or associating mappedquery entries with sponsor content. When a mapped query entry 120matches a sponsor's keyword(s) or content, that sponsor's informationmay be prioritized in the search result display, highlighted, orotherwise given superiority over other content related to the suggestedquery entry 120. Association of key words with sponsors may occurthrough an auction in which bidders compete for sole association withkeywords or for a shared frequency of keyword association (e.g., everyother occurrence of a keyword). Furthermore, the auction process couldinclude bidding to determine the size of the resulting sponsor contentdisplay (e.g., expressed as a percentage of the user's total displayspace on the mobile communication facility 102) and adding multimediacontent to the results display, such as graphics, audio, or a videostream.

Results based on a mapped search query may also be ordered, in part, onthe capabilities of the mobile communication facility 102, wherein thecapability is an audio, visual, processing, or screen capability.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be keyword mapped by producingpredictive text based, at least in part, on information relating to themobile communication facility 102, such as mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144, a personal filter,parental controls 150, carrier business rules 130, or sponsorshipinformation. Additionally, predictive text may be based on the SMSconversion and/or keypad sequence conversion of the mobile communicationfacility 102.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be keyword mapped by associating avoice-based query entry 120 with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, such as voice interpretation based, at leastin part, on SMS conversion.

In embodiments, an auction may be associated to a keyword mapped searchquery entry 120. Performing the auction may involve using informationrelating to the mobile communication facility 102, for example mobilesubscriber characteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144, apersonal filter, parental controls 150, or carrier business rules 130.The result set(s) display may prioritize or highlight sponsor results.

In embodiments, a search query may be keyword mapped on a mobilecommunication facility 102, presenting results on a screen associatedwith the mobile communication facility 102 and performing a transactionin association with a sponsored link, where the transaction may occur bythe user clicking on a sponsored link or engaging in a commercialtransaction, such as purchasing downloadable content.

In embodiments, a search query may be keyword mapped and entered on amobile communication facility 102, aggregating results relating to themapped query for display on a mobile communication facility 102.Content, for example ringtone content, music content, or video content,may be located and aggregated through a spider. The spider may evaluatethe compatibility of the content with the capabilities of one or moremobile communication facilities 102. Compatibility may, for example, bedetermined by running a series of mock mobile communication facility 102trials and using the results to extract results from sites on apreferred basis. Compatibility may also, or instead, be determined usingknown hardware and/or software capabilities of devices according tomanufacturers and/or service providers. One technique may provide forthe extraction from a WAP compatible content site first or extractionfrom content type sites first, where the content was aggregated inrelation to information relating to the mobile communication facility102.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be keyword mapped and associatedwith at least one result within a search result relating to the mappedsearch query with an outbound PPC.

In embodiments, content may be downloaded in relation to informationassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 and a search querymapped, providing the previously downloaded content within a map. Thecontent presented may be information relating to the location of themobile communication facility 102, such as restaurants, entertainment,theaters, and show times. Information may also relate to the time ofday, mobile subscriber characteristics 112, or parental controls 150.The content may include advertisements and may be stored locally on themobile communication facility 102 (e.g., in the cache memory) andperiodically updated according to the time of day and/or changes inlocation of the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a wireless carrier report may be generated on the clickthrough performance of mapped search queries content. The report maycontain information relating to search result quality, keywordmanagement, or revenue generation, and it may be segmented by the typeof mobile communication facility 102 used.

In embodiments, a search query entered in a search box on a mobilecommunication facility 102 may be processed using various techniquesdescribed herein, such as through a query entry 120 facility. Forexample, a search query may be mapped using keyword mapping. The mappedsearch query may be processed through a search algorithm facility 144.Content may be produced in relation to a classified search query from adata facility. The data facility may be a WAP facility or a carrierfacility.

In embodiments, a search query may be mapped based on at least onemobile subscriber characteristic. The mobile subscriber characteristics112 may include location, personal information, history of the user'sweb interactions, or a plurality of characteristics, such as locationand the time of day.

In embodiments, a search query may be mapped and entered on a mobilecommunication facility 102 based on the location of a mobilecommunication facility 102 using a location-based service. Therelationship may be between at least one query entry 120 and thelocation and a time of day. Location may be provided by a GPS system ora cell phone triangulation service.

In embodiments, a search query may be mapped by processing the query inassociation with a filter algorithm, where the filter algorithm usesinformation gathered by a wireless provider 108. The algorithm facility144 may be a collaborative filter where the search is an open web searchor it may be a recommendation system.

In embodiments, a search query may be mapped and entered on a mobilecommunication facility 102 and content received from a result facilitybased on the mapped search. The results facility 148 may be associatedwith information derived from the mobile communication facility 102,such as mobile subscriber characteristics 112 information.

In embodiments, a search query may be mapped and entered on a mobilecommunication facility 102, where the mapped search query is associatedwith a mobile browser facility.

In embodiments, a search query may be mapped on the mobile communicationfacility 102. Disambiguation of the mapped query may take place on themobile communication facility 102 or on a server application.Disambiguation may involve SMS translation, a spell check algorithm, aspell check table, a phonetic spelling algorithm, a phonetic spellingtable, or a numeric keypad word translation.

In embodiments, query entries may be mapped on a mobile communicationfacility 102 where an original search query was entered through a voicerecognition facility 160 residing on the mobile communication facility102, or the voice recognition facility 160 may be used to refine ormodify searches or to select search results. The voice recognitionfacility 160 may also, or instead, reside on a remote server or in parton the mobile communication facility 102 and in part on a server.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be mapped on a mobilecommunication facility 102 where the mapping may be accomplished usingmobile communication related information stored in a data facilityassociated with the mobile communication facility 102. This informationmay reside locally on the mobile communication facility 102 or it may bestored remotely, for example in a mobile subscriber characteristics 112database.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be mapped on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that provides a parental control facility toregulate the results produced on the mobile communication facility 102.The parental controls 150 may be regulated through a server applicationor through the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be mapped on a mobilecommunication facility 102 that provides a privacy facility 152associated with the mobile communication facility 102 to protect a userfrom loss of personal or other sensitive information relating to thesearch query category. The privacy facility 152 may be adapted toprotect information during a transaction.

In embodiments, a search query may be mapped and entered on a mobilecommunication facility 102 and associate the mapping with a transactionsecurity facility to enable secure transactions associated with theclassification. The transactional security facility 154 may be adaptedto enable secure transactions associated with the query classification.The transactional security facility 154 may involve the protection ofprivacy 152 and may be operated in association with parental controls150 or digital rights management.

In embodiments, a query may be mapped in association with carrierbusiness rules 130. Carrier business rules 130 may include walled gardenresults, presenting out of garden content, sponsor information, orauctions. Information relating to the mobile communication facility 102may be mobile subscriber characteristic information.

In embodiments, a query entry 120 may be mapped on a mobilecommunication facility 102 based in part on a sponsor facilityinteraction. Sponsor results may be paid inclusion results, auctionresults, or pay-per-click results (in connection with a WAP site or aphone number). A sponsor of the sponsored result may receivecompensation as a result of activity associated with a mobilecommunication facility 102 phone number. The presentation of thesponsored results may be a link presented as text, as a picture, as avideo, or as an interactive application. Content may be formatted forthe mobile communication facility 102 and relate to webpage content orlinks for syndicated advertisements.

In embodiments, the results of a search query may be retrieved andentered on a mobile communications facility and the results ordered anddisplayed on a mobile communication facility 102 associated with themapped query. This information may include mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144, parental controls150, carrier business rules 130, and/or sponsor information. Resultsrelated to a mapped query entry 120 based on sponsor information may beordered by associating sponsors with key words used in query entriesand/or associating query entries with sponsor content. When a mappedquery entry 120 matches a sponsor's keyword(s) or content, thatsponsor's information may be prioritized in the search result display,highlighted, or otherwise given superiority over other content relatedto the suggested query entry 120. Association of key words with sponsorsmay occur through an auction in which bidders compete for soleassociation with keywords or for a shared frequency of keywordassociation (e.g., every other occurrence of a keyword). Furthermore,the auction process could include bidding to determine the size of theresulting sponsor content display (e.g., expressed as a percentage ofthe user's total display space on the mobile communication facility 102)and adding multimedia content to the results display, such as graphics,audio, or a video stream.

Results based on a mapped search query may also be ordered, in part, onthe capabilities of the mobile communication facility 102, wherein thecapability is an audio, visual, processing, or screen capability.

In embodiments, the results of a query entry 120 may be retrieved byproducing predictive text based, at least in part, on informationrelating to the mobile communication facility 102, such as mobilesubscriber characteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144, apersonal filter, parental controls 150, carrier business rules 130, orsponsorship information. Additionally, predictive text may be based onthe mobile communication facility 102's SMS conversion and/or keypadsequence conversion.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 using voice recognition and retrieve results based on thesearch query.

In embodiments, results may be retrieved based, in part, on a searchquery entered on a mobile communications facility, where a portion ofthe results is based on an auction for search marketing. Performing theauction may involve using information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, for example mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144, a personal filter,parental controls 150, or carrier business rules 130. The result set(s)display may prioritize or highlight sponsor results.

In embodiments, the results of a search query may be retrieved on amobile communication facility 102 based, in part, on informationrelating to the mobile communication facility 102, and a transaction maybe performed in relation to the received results. The transaction mayoccur by the user clicking on a sponsored link or engaging in acommercial transaction, such as purchasing downloadable content. Thetransaction may also be a non-economic transaction.

In embodiments, a plurality of results may be retrieved based, in part,on a search query entered on a mobile communications facility and theresults aggregated. Content, for example ringtone content, musiccontent, or video content, may be aggregated through a spider. Thespider may determine the compatibility of the content with thecapabilities of the mobile communication facility 102. Compatibility maybe determined by running a series of mock mobile communication facility102 trials and using the results to extract results from sites on apreferred basis. The preferred basis may provide for the extraction froma WAP compatible content site first or extraction from content typesites first, where the content was aggregated in relation to informationrelating to the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, results may be retrieved based, in part, on a searchquery entered on a mobile communications facility and associated with atleast one result within the search results with an outbound PPC.

In embodiments, content may be retrieved relating to informationassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 before a searchquery relating to the information is entered. This search may be animplicit search. The content presented may be information relating tothe location of the mobile communication facility 102, such asrestaurants, entertainment, theaters, and show times. Information mayalso relate to the time of day, mobile subscriber characteristics 112,or parental controls 150. The content may include advertisements and maybe stored locally on the mobile communication facility 102 (e.g., in thecache memory) and periodically updated according to the time of dayand/or changes in location of the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a wireless carrier report may be generated in relationto retrieved results based, in part, on a search query entered on amobile communications facility. The report may contain informationrelating to search result quality, keyword management, or revenuegeneration, and it may be segmented by the type of mobile communicationfacility 102 used.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered in a search box on amobile communication facility 102 and the search query associated withmobile communication information. The retrieved results may be based atleast in part on a search query entered on a mobile communicationsfacility.

In embodiments, results may be retrieved based, in part, on a searchquery entered on a mobile communications facility and, in part, based onmobile communication facility 102 information.

In embodiments, a query may be entered in a search query entry facility120 and associate the query with mobile communication information. Theretrieved results may be based, in part, on a query and based, in part,on the mobile communication information.

In embodiments, a search query may be processed through a searchalgorithm facility 144 and mobile communication optimized resultsretrieved based at least in part on the search query. The search querymay be entered on a mobile communications facility, where the resultsare optimized based on information relating to the mobile communicationfacility 102.

In embodiments, results may be retrieved based, in part, on a searchquery entered on a mobile communications facility and based, in part, ona mobile subscriber characteristic. The mobile subscribercharacteristics 112 may include location, personal information, historyof the user's web interactions, or a plurality of characteristics, suchas location and the time of day.

In embodiments, results may be retrieved based, in part, on a searchquery entered on a mobile communications facility and based, in part, ona location based service. The relationship may be among at least onequery entry 120 and the location and a time of day. Location may beprovided by a GPS system or a cell phone triangulation service.

Information relating to the current location of a mobile communicationfacility 102 may be used by a mobile search application for receivingsearch results that include mobile content relating to that location. Asthe mobile communication facility 102 enters a second location, themobile search results may be updated based at least in part on thesecond location information and used to present search results relatingto the second location. In embodiments, a mobile search application mayinclude tracking a mobile communication facility, presenting searchresults based at least in part on a first location, and presentingupdated search results based at least in part on a second location.

Mobile content may be a sponsored content, a sponsored link, a sponsoredcall, a downloadable content, an audio stream, a video, or a graphicelement. The search request may be initiated by a mobile communicationfacility 102, including a phone, mobile phone, cellular phone, and or aGSM phone.

In embodiments, the location of the mobile communication facility 102may be determined according to a unique identifier associated with themobile communication facility 102. A unique identifier may include, butis not limited to, a phone number, an area code of a phone number, abilling address, and or a postal zip code of a billing address.

In embodiments, the location of the mobile communication facility 102may be determined according to the location coordinates of a particularmobile communication facility 102. The location coordinates may bedetermined through GPS, triangulation, and or WiFi triangulation. Thelocation may also be determined by a user-entered location or aplurality of locations, such as geographic regions including one or morestates, or one or more cities.

In embodiments, the location of the mobile communication facility 102may be determined by a distance from a specified location.

For example, a user of a mobile communication facility 102 may initiatea text search query titled “restaurant” from a first location. Thewireless provider, wireless operator, and or telecommunications providermay locate the mobile communication facility 102 based upon informationrelating to the user's mobile communication facility 102. The user'shome address may be on Hanover St. in Boston, Mass. A GPS location,triangulation, and or WiFi triangulation may indicate that the user iscurrently in the vicinity of Hanover St. in Boston, Mass. The user maybe located a specific distance from cell towers located in Boston thatare congruent with the user being in the vicinity of Hanover St. inBoston, Mass. Alternatively, the user may self-enter his currentlocation as being Hanover St. Using this location information, thesearch results that pertain to restaurants that are on or near HanoverSt. in Boston, Mass. may be presented exclusively or in priority toother restaurants that are distant from Hanover St. Continuing thisexample, later in the evening the user has now moved to a secondlocation and would like to find a restaurant for dinner. Again a textentry of “restaurant” is entered into the query entry facility 120 ofthe mobile communication facility 102. Using one or all of the samemeans of determining the location of the mobile communication facility102 described above, the search results may now display informationregarding restaurants that are in the vicinity of the user's secondlocation.

In embodiments, a mobile search application disclosed herein may includereceiving a location of a mobile communication facility and presentingsearch results to the mobile communication facility based on a predictedfuture location. The location of the mobile communication facility maybe determined by a predicted future location that is based at least inpart on a relationship of prior locations. The relationship of thelocations may be used to predict a travel trajectory. The traveltrajectory may be coupled with information regarding time. The timing ofthe residence in the future locations, and their relationships, may beused to predict a travel speed that is, in turn, used to predict a timeof arrival at a predicted future location. The predicted time of arrivalat a predicted future location may be used to pre-load mobile content toa cache of the mobile communication facility for display upon arrival atthe future predicted location, or its vicinity.

In embodiments, the location of the mobile communication facility may bedetermined based at least in part on as association with a route. Aroute may be a street, highway, railroad track, subway track, bus route,flight path, recreational course, and the like. A route may beestablished by repetition and associated with a user of a mobilecommunication facility. Such a repeated route may include, but is notlimited to, a commute to a workplace, a commute form a workplace to aclient's workplace, a commute to a friend's residence, a commute to afamily member's residence, a commute to a place of business (e.g., agrocery store), and the like.

For example, a person traveling on an interstate highway may wish tofind a restaurant at an upcoming exit. A wireless platform 100 may beable to record the location of a mobile communication facility 102,using any of the methods described above, at time intervals to establisha travel line or trajectory that the user of the mobile communicationfacility 102 is currently on. This trajectory may be compared to knownroutes, such as those described above. Here the route of the user maymatch an interstate highway route. This information may be used topredict the future locations of the mobile communication facility.Because the location is taken at a time interval, this information maybe combined with the distance traveled between locations in order topredict a speed of travel. The predicted speed, coupled with thepredicted future location, may enable the search results for“restaurant” entered by the interstate traveler to present exclusivelyor in priority, those restaurants that are along the route on which theuser is traveling. Because the direction of travel is also known, thoserestaurants that may be close to the traveler in terms of distance, butwhose exit the traveler has already passed may be excluded or given alower priority due to the greater difficulty involved in returning tothem rather than simply visiting a restaurant located at an upcomingexit.

In embodiments, the predicted time of arrival at a predicted futurelocation may be used to pre-load mobile content to a cache of the mobilecommunication facility for display upon arrival at the future predictedlocation, or its vicinity.

In embodiments, the location of the mobile communication facility may beassociated with other information relating to the mobile communicationfacility to further refine the results delivered. For example, theresults may be presented or ordered in relation to a relevancydetermined by considering mobile subscriber characteristics, usercharacteristics, user transactions, user history, devicecharacteristics, proximity to other locations (e.g. a home location orwork location) or other such information as described herein.

In embodiments, a search query may be processed and entered on a mobilecommunication facility 102 through a filter or search algorithm facility144 and order the results based, in part, on the filter algorithm, wherethe filter algorithm uses information related to the mobilecommunication facility 102. The algorithm facility 144 may be acollaborative filter where the search is an open web search, or it maybe a recommendation system.

In embodiments, results may be retrieved from a results facility 148based, in part, on a search query entered on a mobile communicationsfacility. The results facility 148 may be associated with informationrelating to the mobile communication facility 102, such as mobilesubscriber characteristics 112 information.

In embodiments, a mobile browser facility may be used in the process ofretrieving results from a results facility 148, where the resultsfacility 148 is adapted to produce results related to carrier premiumcontent and an open web search. Carrier premium content may includeringtones, ringbacks, downloaded content, or purchased content. Theresults facility 148 may also be adapted to produce results related to amobile communication facility 102, such as subscriber characteristicinformation.

In embodiments, results may be retrieved based, in part, on a searchquery entered on a mobile communications facility. The results may be,in part, related to information associated with a query processedthrough a disambiguation facility 140. Disambiguation of the mappedquery may take place on the mobile communication facility 102 or on aserver application. Disambiguation may involve SMS translation, a spellcheck algorithm, a spell check table, a phonetic spelling algorithm, aphonetic spelling table, or a numeric keypad word translation.

In embodiments, results may be retrieved based, in part, on a searchquery entered on a mobile communications facility using a voicerecognition facility 160. The original search query may be enteredthrough a voice recognition facility 160 residing on the mobilecommunication facility 102. Alternatively, the voice recognitionfacility 160 may reside on a remote server or in part on the mobilecommunication facility 102 and in part on a server.

In embodiments, results may be retrieved based, in part, on a searchquery entered on a mobile communications facility, where the resultsare, in part, related to information associated with the mobilecommunication facility 102. This information may reside locally on themobile communication facility 102 or it may be stored remotely, forexample in a mobile subscriber characteristics 112 database.

In embodiments, results may be retrieved based, in part, on a searchquery entered on a mobile communication facility 102 that provides aparental control facility to regulate the results produced on the mobilecommunication facility 102 based. The parental controls 150 may beregulated through a server application or through the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, results may be retrieved based, in part, on a searchquery on a mobile communication facility 102 that provides a privacyfacility 152 associated with the mobile communication facility 102 toprotect a user from loss of personal or other sensitive informationrelating to the search query category. The privacy facility 152 may beadapted to protect information during a transaction.

In embodiments, results may be retrieved based, in part, on a searchquery entered on a mobile communication facility 102, and the resultsmay be associated with a transaction security facility to enable securetransactions associated with the classification. The transactionalsecurity facility 154 may be adapted to enable secure transactionsassociated with the query. The transactional security facility 154 mayinvolve the protection of privacy 152 and may be operated in associationwith parental controls 150 or digital rights management.

In embodiments, results may be retrieved based, in part, on a searchquery in association with carrier business rules 130. Carrier businessrules 130 may include walled garden results, presenting out of gardencontent, sponsor information, or auctions. Information relating to themobile communication facility 102 may be mobile subscribercharacteristic information.

In embodiments, results may be retrieved based, in part, on a searchquery entered on a mobile communication facility 102 based, in part, ona sponsor facility interaction. Sponsor results may be paid inclusionresults, auction results, or pay-per-click results (in connection with aWAP site or a phone number). A sponsor of the sponsored result mayreceive compensation as a result of activity associated with a mobilecommunication facility 102 phone number. The presentation of thesponsored results may be formatted as a link or presented as text, as apicture, as a video, or as an interactive application. Content may beformatted for the mobile communication facility 102 and relate towebpage content or links for syndicated advertisements.

In embodiments, results may be ordered and displayed based on a searchquery by producing predictive text based, at least in part, oninformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102, such asmobile subscriber characteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144,a personal filter, parental controls 150, carrier business rules 130, orsponsorship information. Additionally, predictive text may be based onthe mobile communication facility 102's SMS conversion and/or keypadsequence conversion.

In embodiments, results may be ordered and displayed by associating avoice-based query entry 120 with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, such as voice interpretation based, at leastin part, on SMS conversion.

In embodiments, results may be ordered and displayed based, in part, ona search query entered on a mobile communications facility, where aportion of the results is based on an auction for search marketing.Performing the auction may involve using information relating to themobile communication facility 102, for example mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144, a personal filter,parental controls 150, or carrier business rules 130. The result set(s)display may prioritize or highlight sponsor results.

In embodiments, results may be ordered and displayed based, in part, ona search query on a mobile communication facility 102 and the resultspresented on a screen associated with the mobile communication facility102, and a transaction may be performed in association with a sponsoredlink, where the transaction may occur by the user clicking on asponsored link or engaging in a commercial transaction, such aspurchasing downloadable content.

In embodiments, results may be ordered and displayed on the mobilecommunication facility 102 and the results aggregated by relating to asearch query for display on a mobile communication facility 102.Content, for example ringtone content, music content, or video content,may be aggregated through a spider. The spider may determine thecompatibility of the content with the capabilities of the mobilecommunication facility 102. Compatibility may be determined by running aseries of mock mobile communication facility 102 trials and using theresults to extract results from sites on a preferred basis. Thepreferred basis may provide for the extraction from a WAP compatiblecontent site first or extraction from content type sites first, wherethe content was aggregated in relation to information relating to themobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, results may be ordered and displayed based, in part, ona search query entered on a mobile communications facility andassociated with at least one result within a search result relating tothe query with an outbound PPC.

In embodiments, content may be retrieved relating to informationassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 before a searchquery relating to the information is entered. Following the entry of thesearch query the information may be ordered and displayed. The contentpresented may be information relating to the location of the mobilecommunication facility 102, such as restaurants, entertainment,theaters, and show times. Information may also relate to the time ofday, mobile subscriber characteristics 112, or parental controls 150.The content may include advertisements and may be stored locally on themobile communication facility 102 (e.g., in the cache memory) andperiodically updated according to the time of day and/or changes inlocation of the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a wireless carrier report may be generated in relationto the ordering of results retrieved on a mobile communicationsfacility. The report may contain information relating to search resultquality, keyword management, or revenue generation, and it may besegmented by the type of mobile communication facility 102 used.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered in a search box on amobile communication facility 102, the search query associated withmobile communication information, and results ordered and displayedbased, in part, on a search query entered and based, in part, on themobile communication information.

In embodiments, results may be ordered and displayed based, in part, ona search query entered on a mobile communications facility and, in part,based on mobile communication facility 102 information.

In embodiments, a query may be entered in a search query entry 120facility, the query associated with mobile communication information,and the results ordered and displayed based, in part, on a query andbased, in part, on the mobile communication information.

In embodiments, a search query may be processed through a searchalgorithm facility 144 and mobile communication optimized resultsretrieved based, in part, on the search query, where the optimizedresults are optimized based on information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102. The information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102 may be screen size, screen shape, processingcapability, processing speed, audio system, visual system, aural system,mobile subscriber characteristics 112, and location.

In embodiments, search results may be received from a delivery facilityand the results ordered and displayed on a display associated with amobile communication facility 102, where the ordering is made inassociation with information relating to the mobile communicationfacility 102. The information relating to the mobile communicationfacility 102 may be screen size, screen shape, processing capability,processing speed, audio system, visual system, aural system, mobilesubscriber characteristics 112, and location.

In embodiments, results may be ordered and displayed on a mobilecommunication facility 102 display based on at least one mobilesubscriber characteristic. The mobile subscriber characteristics 112 mayinclude location, personal information, history of the user's webinteractions, or a plurality of characteristics, such as location andthe time of day.

In embodiments, search results may be ordered and displayed on a mobilecommunication facility 102 display based on the location of a mobilecommunication facility 102 using a location-based service. Therelationship may be among at least one query entry 120 and the locationand a time of day. Location may be provided by a GPS system or a cellphone triangulation service.

In embodiments, a search query may be processed and entered on a mobilecommunication facility 102 through a filter algorithm facility 144 andorder the results based, in part, on the filter algorithm, where thefilter algorithm uses information related to the mobile communicationfacility 102. The algorithm facility 144 may be a collaborative filterwhere the search is an open web search, or it may be a recommendationsystem.

In embodiments, results may be ordered from a results facility 148based, in part, on a search query entered on a mobile communicationsfacility. The results facility 148 may be associated with informationderived from the mobile communication facility 102, such as mobilesubscriber characteristics 112 information.

In embodiments, a mobile browser facility may be used in the process ofordering and displaying results from a results facility 148. The resultsfacility 148 may be adapted to produce results related to carrierpremium content and an open web search. The results facility 148 mayalso be associated with information derived from the mobilecommunication facility 102, such as mobile subscriber characteristics112 information.

In embodiments, results may be ordered based, in part, on a search queryentered on a mobile communications facility. Disambiguation of the querymay take place on the mobile communication facility 102 or on a serverapplication. Disambiguation may involve SMS translation, a spell checkalgorithm, a spell check table, a phonetic spelling algorithm, aphonetic spelling table, or a numeric keypad word translation.

In embodiments, results may be ordered based, in part, on a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102 through a voicerecognition facility 160 residing on the mobile communication facility102. Alternatively, the voice recognition facility 160 may reside on aremote server or in part on the mobile communication facility 102 and inpart on a server.

In embodiments, results may be ordered based, in part, on a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102 where the results arebased, in part, on information stored in a data facility associated withthe mobile communication facility 102. This information may residelocally on the mobile communication facility 102, or it may be storedremotely, for example in a mobile subscriber characteristics 112database.

In embodiments, results may be ordered and displayed based, in part, ona search query entered on a mobile communication facility 102 thatprovides a parental control facility to regulate the results produced onthe mobile communication facility 102. The parental controls 150 may beregulated through a server application or through the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, results may be ordered and displayed based, in part, ona search query entered on a mobile communication facility 102 thatprovides a privacy facility 152 associated with the mobile communicationfacility 102 to protect a user from loss of personal or other sensitiveinformation relating to the search query category. The privacy facility152 may be adapted to protect information during a transaction.

In embodiments, results may be ordered and displayed based, in part, ona search query entered on a mobile communication facility 102 andassociate the results with a transaction security facility to enablesecure transactions associated with the results. The transactionalsecurity facility 154 may be adapted to enable secure transactionsassociated with the query classification. The transactional securityfacility 154 may involve the protection of privacy 152 and may beoperated in association with parental controls 150, digital rightsmanagement, or identity protection.

In embodiments, results may be ordered and displayed based, in part, ona search query entered on a mobile communications facility inassociation with carrier business rules 130. Carrier business rules 130may include walled garden results, presenting out of garden content,sponsor information, or auctions. Information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102 may be mobile subscriber characteristicinformation.

In embodiments, results may be ordered and displayed based, in part, ona search query entered on a mobile communication facility 102 associatedwith a sponsor facility interaction. Sponsor results may be paidinclusion results, auction results, or pay-per-click results (inconnection with a WAP site or a phone number). A sponsor of thesponsored result may receive compensation as a result of activityassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 phone number. Thepresentation of the sponsored results may be formatted as a link orpresented as text, as a picture, as a video, or as an interactiveapplication. Content may be formatted for the mobile communicationfacility 102 and relate to webpage content or links for syndicatedadvertisements.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102 using voice recognition.The predictive text may be based, in part, on at least one of mobilecommunication facility 102 information, SMS conversion, mobilesubscriber characteristic information, user specific dictionary, numerickeypad conversion, and multi-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102 and an auction for searchmarketing performed in relation to the predicted text. Performing theauction may involve using information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, for example mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144, a personal filter,parental controls 150, or carrier business rules 130. The result set(s)display may prioritize or highlight sponsor results.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102 and a transactionperformed based at least in part on the predicted text. The transactionmay occur by the user clicking on a sponsored link or engaging in acommercial transaction, such as purchasing downloadable content orperforming a non-economic transaction. The predictive text may be basedat least in part on at least one of mobile communication facility 102information, SMS conversion, mobile subscriber characteristicinformation, user specific dictionary, numeric keypad conversion, andmulti-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102 and the resultsaggregated based, in part, on the predicted text. Content, for exampleringtone content, music content, or video content, may be aggregatedthrough a spider and presented by category in a high level aggregatedform. The spider may determine the compatibility of the content with thecapabilities of the mobile communication facility 102. Compatibility maybe determined by running a series of mock mobile communication facility102 trials and using the results to extract results from sites on apreferred basis. The preferred basis may provide for the extraction froma WAP compatible content site first or extraction from content typesites first, where the content was aggregated in relation to informationrelating to the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102 and an outbound PPCmarketing activity performed in association with the predicted text. Thepredictive text may be based, in part, on at least one of mobilecommunication facility 102 information, SMS conversion, mobilesubscriber characteristic information, user specific dictionary, numerickeypad conversion, and multi-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, results may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102 based, in part, on information relating to a mobilecommunication facility 102 and text predicted in association with asearch query entered on a mobile communication facility 102. Followingthe predictive text step, the results may be presented on a displayassociated with the mobile communication facility 102. The predictivetext may be based, in part, on at least one of mobile communicationfacility 102 information, SMS conversion, mobile subscribercharacteristic information, user specific dictionary, numeric keypadconversion, and multi-letter keypad conversion. The content presentedmay be information relating to the location of the mobile communicationfacility 102, such as restaurants, entertainment, theaters, and showtimes. Information may also relate to the time of day, mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, or parental controls 150. The content may includeadvertisements and may be stored locally on the mobile communicationfacility 102 (e.g., in the cache memory) and periodically updatedaccording to the time of day and/or changes in location of the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, a wireless carrier report may be generated in relationto predicting text associated with a search query entered on a mobilecommunication facility 102. The predictive text may be based, in part,on at least one of mobile communication facility 102 information, SMSconversion, mobile subscriber characteristic information, user specificdictionary, numeric keypad conversion, and multi-letter keypadconversion. The report may contain information relating to search resultquality, keyword management, revenue generation, and it may be segmentedby the type of mobile communication facility 102 used.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered in a search box on a mobile communication facility 102. Thepredictive text may be based, in part, on at least one of mobilecommunication facility 102 information, SMS conversion, mobilesubscriber characteristic information, user specific dictionary, numerickeypad conversion, and multi-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102. The predictive text maybe based, in part, on at least one of mobile communication facility 102information, SMS conversion, mobile subscriber characteristicinformation, user specific dictionary, numeric keypad conversion, andmulti-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a query entry 120 facility associated with a mobilecommunication facility 102 using voice recognition. The predictive textmay be based, in part, on at least one of mobile communication facility102 information, SMS conversion, mobile subscriber characteristicinformation, user specific dictionary, numeric keypad conversion, andmulti-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102 and a request processedthrough a search algorithm facility 144, where the request is at leastbased on the predicted text. The predictive text may be based, in part,on at least one of mobile communication facility 102 information, SMSconversion, mobile subscriber characteristic information, user specificdictionary, numeric keypad conversion, and multi-letter keypadconversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102 and the results received,in part, in association with the predicted text from a deliveryfacility. The predictive text may be based, in part, on at least one ofmobile communication facility 102 information, SMS conversion, mobilesubscriber characteristic information, user specific dictionary, numerickeypad conversion, and multi-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102 based, in part, on atleast one mobile subscriber characteristic. The mobile subscribercharacteristics 112 may include location, personal information, historyof the user's web interactions, or a plurality of characteristics, suchas location and the time of day. The predictive text may be based atleast in part on at least one of mobile communication facility 102information, SMS conversion, mobile subscriber characteristicinformation, user specific dictionary, numeric keypad conversion, andmulti-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102, where the predicted textis based, in part, on a location as determined by a location basedservice. The relationship may be among at least one query entry 120 andthe location and a time of day. Location may be provided by a GPS systemor a cell phone triangulation service. The predictive text may be based,in part, on at least one of mobile communication facility 102information, SMS conversion, mobile subscriber characteristicinformation, user specific dictionary, numeric keypad conversion, andmulti-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102, where the predicted textis based, in part, on filter algorithm facility 144. The algorithmfacility 144 may be a collaborative filter where the search is an openweb search, or it may be a recommendation system. The predictive textmay be based, in part, on at least one of mobile communication facility102 information, SMS conversion, mobile subscriber characteristicinformation, user specific dictionary, numeric keypad conversion, andmulti-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and a search query entered on amobile communication facility 102 where the results are produced from aresults facility 148 in association with the predicted text. Thepredictive text may be based, in part, on at least one of mobilecommunication facility 102 information, SMS conversion, mobilesubscriber characteristic information, user specific dictionary, numerickeypad conversion, and multi-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102. The predictive text maybe based, in part, on at least one of mobile communication facility 102information, SMS conversion, mobile subscriber characteristicinformation, user specific dictionary, numeric keypad conversion, andmulti-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102, where the predicted textmay be processed through a disambiguation facility 140. Disambiguationof the query may take place on the mobile communication facility 102 oron a server application. Disambiguation may involve SMS translation, aspell check algorithm, a spell check table, a phonetic spellingalgorithm, a phonetic spelling table, or a numeric keypad wordtranslation. The predictive text may be based, in part, on at least oneof mobile communication facility 102 information, SMS conversion, mobilesubscriber characteristic information, user specific dictionary, numerickeypad conversion, and multi-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102, where the predicted textmay be based, in part, on a search query entered through a voicerecognition facility 160 residing on the mobile communication facility102. Alternatively, the voice recognition facility 160 may reside on aremote server or in part on the mobile communication facility 102 and inpart on a server. The predictive text may be based, in part, on at leastone of mobile communication facility 102 information, SMS conversion,mobile subscriber characteristic information, user specific dictionary,numeric keypad conversion, and multi-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102, wherein the predictedtext may be based, in part, on mobile communication related informationresiding in a data facility. This information may reside locally on themobile communication facility 102, or it may be stored remotely, forexample, in a mobile subscriber characteristics 112 database. Thepredictive text may be based, in part, on at least one of mobilecommunication facility 102 information, SMS conversion, mobilesubscriber characteristic information, user specific dictionary, numerickeypad conversion, and multi-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102, where the predicted textis based, in part, on a parental control parameter. The parentalcontrols 150 may be regulated through a server application or throughthe mobile communication facility 102. The predictive text may be based,in part, on at least one of mobile communication facility 102information, SMS conversion, mobile subscriber characteristicinformation, user specific dictionary, numeric keypad conversion, andmulti-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102, where the predicted textis based, in part, on a privacy 152 parameter. The privacy facility 152may be adapted to protect information during a transaction. Thepredictive text is based, in part, on at least one of mobilecommunication facility 102 information, SMS conversion, mobilesubscriber characteristic information, user specific dictionary, numerickeypad conversion, and multi-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102 and the predicted textassociated with a transactional facility to enable a transactionassociated with the predicted text. The transactional security facility154 may be adapted to enable secure transactions associated with thequery classification. The transactional security facility 154 mayinvolve the protection of privacy 152 and may be operated in associationwith parental controls 150, digital rights management, or identityprotection. The predictive text may be based, in part, on at least oneof mobile communication facility 102 information, SMS conversion, mobilesubscriber characteristic information, user specific dictionary, numerickeypad conversion, and multi-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102, where the predicted textis based, in part, on carrier business rules 130. Carrier business rules130 may include walled garden results, presenting out of garden content,sponsor information, or auctions. Information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102 may be mobile subscriber characteristicinformation. The predictive text may be based, in part, on at least oneof mobile communication facility 102 information, SMS conversion, mobilesubscriber characteristic information, user specific dictionary, numerickeypad conversion, and multi-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, text may be predicted and associated with a search queryentered on a mobile communication facility 102, where the predicted textis based, in part, on sponsor facility information. Sponsor results maybe paid inclusion results, auction results, or pay-per-click results (inconnection with a WAP site or a phone number). A sponsor of thesponsored result may receive compensation as a result of activityassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 phone number. Thepresentation of the sponsored results may be formatted as a link orpresented as text, as a picture, as a video, or as an interactiveapplication. Content may be formatted for the mobile communicationfacility 102 and relate to webpage content or links for syndicatedadvertisements. The predictive text may be based, in part, on at leastone of mobile communication facility 102 information, SMS conversion,mobile subscriber characteristic information, user specific dictionary,numeric keypad conversion, and multi-letter keypad conversion.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 using voice recognition and an auction for search marketingperformed that is associated with the search query. Performing theauction may involve using information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, for example mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, a search algorithm facility 144, a personal filter,parental controls 150, or carrier business rules 130. The result set(s)display may prioritize or highlight sponsor results.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 using voice recognition and a transaction made inassociation with results received based at least in part on the searchquery. The transaction may occur by the user clicking on a sponsoredlink or engaging in a commercial transaction, such as purchasingdownloadable content or performing a non-economic transaction.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 using voice recognition and the results aggregated based,in part, on the search query. Content, for example ringtone content,music content, or video content, may be aggregated through a spider andpresented by category in a high level aggregated form. The spider maydetermine the compatibility of the content with the capabilities of themobile communication facility 102. Compatibility may be determined byrunning a series of mock mobile communication facility 102 trials andusing the results to extract results from sites on a preferred basis.The preferred basis may provide for the extraction from a WAP compatiblecontent site first or extraction from content type sites first, wherethe content was aggregated in relation to information relating to themobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 using voice recognition and an activity performed inrelation to outbound PPC marketing based at least in part on the searchquery.

In embodiments, results may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102 based at least in part on information relating to themobile communication facility 102 and, later, a search query enteredusing voice recognition to receive the results. Following the predictivetext step, the results may be presented on a display associated with themobile communication facility 102. The content presented may beinformation relating to the location of the mobile communicationfacility 102, such as restaurants, entertainment, theaters, and showtimes. Information may also relate to the time of day, mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, or parental controls 150. The content may includeadvertisements and may be stored locally on the mobile communicationfacility 102 (e.g., in the cache memory) and periodically updatedaccording to the time of day and/or changes in location of the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, a wireless carrier report may be generated in relationto predicting text associated with a search query entered through voicerecognition on a mobile communication facility 102. The report maycontain information relating to search result quality, keywordmanagement, revenue generation, and it may be segmented by the type ofmobile communication facility 102 used.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 using voice recognition. The voice activation may beactivated using a search box entry, button, or other suitable activationtechnique. The voice recognition facility 160 may include a query entry120 facility. The search query may be processed through a searchalgorithm facility 144, a delivery facility, and/or any other facilitysuitable for processing searches as described herein. The search querymay be associated with a mobile subscriber characteristic. The mobilesubscriber characteristics 112 may include location, personalinformation, history of the user's web interactions, or a plurality ofcharacteristics, such as location and the time of day.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 using voice recognition, where the search query isassociated with a location as determined by a location based service.The relationship may be among at least one query entry 120 and thelocation and a time of day. Location may be provided by a GPS system ora cell phone triangulation service.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 using voice recognition and associating the search querywith a filter algorithm facility 144. The algorithm facility 144 may bea collaborative filter where the search is an open web search, or it maybe a recommendation system.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 using voice recognition and the search query presented to aresults facility 148.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 using voice recognition and the search query processedusing a mobile browser facility.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 using voice recognition, where the search query isprocessed through a disambiguation facility 140. Disambiguation of thequery may take place on the mobile communication facility 102 or on aserver application. Disambiguation may involve SMS translation, a spellcheck algorithm, a spell check table, a phonetic spelling algorithm, aphonetic spelling table, or a numeric keypad word translation.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 using voice recognition facility 160 residing on the mobilecommunication facility 102. Alternatively, the voice recognitionfacility 160 may reside on a remote server or in part on the mobilecommunication facility 102 and in part on a server.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 using voice recognition, where the voice recognitionprocess uses information relating to the mobile communication facility102 that may reside in a data facility. This information may residelocally on the mobile communication facility 102, or it may be storedremotely, for example in a mobile subscriber characteristics 112database.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 using voice recognition, where the search query isassociated with a parental control parameter. The parental controls 150may be regulated through a server application or through the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 using voice recognition, where the search query isassociated with a privacy 152 parameter. The privacy facility 152 may beadapted to protect information during a transaction.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 using voice recognition, where the search query isassociated with a security facility. The transactional security facility154 may be adapted to enable secure transactions associated with thequery classification. The transactional security 154 facility mayinvolve the protection of privacy 152 and may be operated in associationwith parental controls 150, digital rights management, or identityprotection.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 using voice recognition, where the search query isassociated with a carrier business rule. Carrier business rules 130 mayinclude walled garden results, presenting out of garden content, sponsorinformation, or auctions. Information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102 may be mobile subscriber characteristicinformation.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a mobile communicationfacility 102 using voice recognition, wherein the search query isassociated with a sponsor facility. Sponsor results may be paidinclusion results, auction results, or pay-per-click results (inconnection with a WAP site or a phone number). A sponsor of thesponsored result may receive compensation as a result of activityassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 phone number. Thepresentation of the sponsored results may be formatted as a link orpresented as text, as a picture, as a video, or as an interactiveapplication. Content may be formatted for the mobile communicationfacility 102 and relate to webpage content or links for syndicatedadvertisements.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the sponsored content is adapted to be associatedwith a transaction. The transaction may occur by the user clicking on asponsored link or engaging in a commercial transaction, such aspurchasing downloadable content or performing a non-economictransaction.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, wherein the sponsored content is related to aggregatedcontent. Content, for example ringtone content, music content, or videocontent, may be aggregated through a spider, and presented by categoryin a high level aggregated form. The spider may determine thecompatibility of the content with the capabilities of the mobilecommunication facility 102. Compatibility may be determined by running aseries of mock mobile communication facility 102 trials and using theresults to extract results from sites on a preferred basis. Thepreferred basis may provide for the extraction from a WAP compatiblecontent site first or extraction from content type sites first, wherethe content was aggregated in relation to information relating to themobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the sponsored content is related to PPC marketing.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102; the sponsored content may be downloaded to the mobilecommunication facility 102 and, later, a search performed wherein thesponsored content is then presented. The content presented may beinformation relating to the location of the mobile communicationfacility 102, such as restaurants, entertainment, theaters, and showtimes. Information may also relate to the time of day, mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, or parental controls 150. The content may includeadvertisements and may be stored locally on the mobile communicationfacility 102 (e.g., in the cache memory) and periodically updatedaccording to the time of day and/or changes in location of the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, a wireless carrier report may be generated in relationto auctions for search marketing related to a presentation of sponsoredcontent on a mobile communication facility 102. The report may containinformation relating to search result quality, keyword management,revenue generation, and it may be segmented by the type of mobilecommunication facility 102 used.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the auction is related at least in part to a searchquery entered in a search box on a mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the auction is, in part, based on a search queryentered on the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the auction is, in part, related to a searchalgorithm facility 144. The search algorithm facility 144 may produce asearch algorithm, and the search algorithm may be provided to an auctionfacility.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where auction results are provided through a deliveryfacility associated with the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, wherein the auction is associated with a mobile subscribercharacteristic. The mobile subscriber characteristics 112 may includelocation, personal information, history of the user's web interactions,or a plurality of characteristics, such as location and the time of day.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the auction is associated with a location asdetermined by a location based service. The relationship may be among atleast one query entry 120 and the location and a time of day. Locationmay be provided by a GPS system or a cell phone triangulation service.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the auction is associated with a filter algorithmfacility 144. The algorithm facility 144 may be a collaborative filterwhere the search is an open web search, or it may be a recommendationsystem.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the results produced by the auction are presented tothe mobile communication facility 102 through a results facility 148.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the auction results are presented to the mobilecommunication facility 102 through a mobile browser facility.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the auction is the result of a query processedthrough a disambiguation facility 140. Disambiguation of the query maytake place on the mobile communication facility 102 or on a serverapplication. Disambiguation may involve SMS translation, a spell checkalgorithm, a spell check table, a phonetic spelling algorithm, aphonetic spelling table, or a numeric keypad word translation.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the auction is the result of a query processedthrough a voice recognition facility 160 residing on the mobilecommunication facility 102. Alternatively, the voice recognitionfacility 160 may reside on a remote server or in part on the mobilecommunication facility 102 and in part on a server.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the auction is performed in coordination withinformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102 thatresides in a data facility. This information may reside locally on themobile communication facility 102, or it may be stored remotely, forexample in a mobile subscriber characteristics database 112.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the auction is associated with a parental controlparameter. The parental controls 150 may be regulated through a serverapplication or through the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the auction is associated with a privacy 152parameter.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the auction is associated with a security facility.The transactional security 154 facility may be adapted to enable securetransactions associated with the query classification. The transactionalsecurity facility 154 may involve the protection of privacy 152 and maybe operated in association with parental controls 150, digital rightsmanagement, or identity protection.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the auction is associated with a carrier businessrule. Carrier business rules 130 may include walled garden results,presenting out of garden content, sponsor information, or auctions.Information relating to the mobile communication facility 102 may bemobile subscriber characteristic information.

In embodiments, an auction for search marketing may be performed relatedto a presentation of sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the auction is associated with a sponsor facility.Sponsor results may be paid inclusion results, auction results, orpay-per-click results (in connection with a WAP site or a phone number).A sponsor of the sponsored result may receive compensation as a resultof activity associated with a mobile communication facility 102 phonenumber. The presentation of the sponsored results may be formatted as alink or presented as text, as a picture, as a video, or as aninteractive application. Content may be formatted for the mobilecommunication facility 102 and relate to webpage content or links forsyndicated advertisements.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the transaction is related to aggregate resultsrelating to mobile communication information. Content, for exampleringtone content, music content, or video content, may be aggregatedthrough a spider and presented by category in a high level aggregatedform. The spider may determine the compatibility of the content with thecapabilities of the mobile communication facility 102. Compatibility maybe determined by running a series of mock mobile communication facility102 trials and using the results to extract results from sites on apreferred basis. The preferred basis may provide for the extraction froma WAP compatible content site first or extraction from content typesites first, where the content was aggregated in relation to informationrelating to the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, an action may be performed relating to PPC marketing ona mobile communication facility 102, wherein the PPC marketing isrelated to mobile communication information.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, wherein the transaction is related to content previouslydownloaded to the mobile communication facility 102 in anticipation of asearch. The search may be an implicit search. The content presented maybe information relating to the location of the mobile communicationfacility 102, such as restaurants, entertainment, theaters, and showtimes. Information may also relate to the time of day, mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, or parental controls 150. The content may includeadvertisements and may be stored locally on the mobile communicationfacility 102 (e.g., in the cache memory) and periodically updatedaccording to the time of day and/or changes in location of the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, a wireless carrier report may be generated in relationto transactions made on a mobile communication facility 102. The reportmay contain information relating to search result quality, keywordmanagement, revenue generation, and it may be segmented by the type ofmobile communication facility 102 used.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the transaction is related to results associatedwith mobile communication information and related in part, to a queryentered in a search box associated with the mobile communicationfacility 102.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the transaction is, in part, related to mobilecommunication information, such as mobile subscriber characteristicinformation.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the transaction is, in part, related to a queryentered in a query entry 120 facility and, in part, related to mobilecommunication information, such as mobile subscriber characteristicinformation.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the transaction is, in part, related to resultobtained through a search algorithm facility 144. The search algorithmfacility 144 may use mobile communication information in the performanceof a search. For example, the search algorithm facility 144 may producea search algorithm and provide it to an auction facility.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the transaction is at least in part related to adelivery facility type.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the transaction is at least in part related to amobile subscriber characteristic. The mobile subscriber characteristics112 may include location, personal information, history of the user'sweb interactions, or a plurality of characteristics, such as locationand the time of day.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the transaction is associated with a location asdetermined by a location based service. The relationship may be among atleast one query entry 120 and the location and a time of day. Locationmay be provided by a GPS system or a cell phone triangulation service.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the transaction is associated with a filteralgorithm facility 144. The algorithm facility 144 may be acollaborative filter where the search is an open web search, or it maybe a recommendation system.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where results produced by the auction are presented to themobile communication facility 102 through a results facility 148.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the transaction at least is processed through themobile communication facility 102 through a mobile browser facility.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the transaction is at least in part related to aresult of a query processed through a disambiguation facility 140.Disambiguation of the query may take place on the mobile communicationfacility 102 or on a server application. Disambiguation may involve SMStranslation, a spell check algorithm, a spell check table, a phoneticspelling algorithm, a phonetic spelling table, or a numeric keypad wordtranslation.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the transaction is a related to a query processedthrough a voice recognition facility 160 residing on the mobilecommunication facility 102. Alternatively, the voice recognitionfacility 160 may reside on a remote server or in part on the mobilecommunication facility 102 and in part on a server.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the transaction is performed in coordination withinformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102 that mayreside in a data facility. This information may reside locally on themobile communication facility 102, or it may be stored remotely, forexample in a mobile subscriber characteristics database 112.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the transaction is associated with a parentalcontrol parameter. The parental controls 150 may be regulated through aserver application or through the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a communication facility,where the transaction is associated with a privacy 152 parameter.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the transaction is associated with a securityfacility. The transactional security facility 154 may be adapted toenable secure transactions associated with the query classification. Thetransactional security facility 154 may involve the protection ofprivacy 152 and may be operated in association with parental controls150, digital rights management, or identity protection.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the transaction is associated with a carrierbusiness rule. Carrier business rules 130 may include walled gardenresults, presenting out of garden content, sponsor information, orauctions. Information relating to the mobile communication facility 102may be mobile subscriber characteristic information.

In embodiments, a transaction may be made on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the transaction is associated with a sponsorfacility. Sponsor results may be paid inclusion results, auctionresults, or pay-per-click results (in connection with a WAP site or aphone number). A sponsor of the sponsored result may receivecompensation as a result of activity associated with a mobilecommunication facility 102 phone number. The presentation of thesponsored results may be formatted as a link or presented as text, as apicture, as a video, or as an interactive application. Content may beformatted for the mobile communication facility 102 and relate towebpage content or links for syndicated advertisements.

In embodiments, a vendor may be selected in association with a sponsoredlink and the sponsored link presented in association with aggregatedresults. The vendor may be presented with an option of receiving furtherleads, such as phone or web leads.

In embodiments, results may be aggregated in association with a mobilecommunication facility 102, the aggregated results downloaded to themobile communication facility 102, and the aggregated results presentedto a user of the mobile communication facility 102 as a result of asearch query entered following the download. The search may be animplicit search. The content presented may be information relating tothe location of the mobile communication facility 102, such asrestaurants, entertainment, theaters, and show times. Information mayalso relate to the time of day, mobile subscriber characteristics 112,or parental controls 150. The content may include advertisements and maybe stored locally on the mobile communication facility 102 (e.g., in thecache memory) and periodically updated according to the time of dayand/or changes in location of the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a wireless carrier report may be generated in relationto aggregated results presented on a mobile communication facility 102.The report may contain information relating to search result quality,keyword management, revenue generation, and it may be segmented by thetype of mobile communication facility 102 used.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered in a search box on amobile communication facility 102, the aggregated results associatedwith the search query, and aggregated results presented on the mobilecommunication facility 102. The aggregated results may be presented inan aggregated form that includes a high level descriptor that may beactivated to reveal the results. Activation may be a link. A second setof results may also be aggregated and presented on the mobilecommunication facility 102. The second aggregated results may bepresented associated with high level descriptors.

In embodiments, results may be aggregated and the aggregated resultscategorized into a plurality of aggregated results, where the pluralityof aggregated results are presented on a mobile communication facility102.

In embodiments, an aggregation facility may be associated with a queryentry 120 facility of a mobile communication facility 102, where theaggregation facility is adapted to present categorized aggregatedresults. The mobile communication facility 102 may be adapted tofacilitate selection of the categorized aggregated results and revealindividual results within the aggregated results. Facilitation mayinvolve the presentation of a link.

In embodiments, a search query may be produced in association with asearch algorithm facility 144, the results retrieved based on the searchquery, and the results aggregated into categories for presentation on amobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, content may be delivered from a delivery facility, thecontent aggregated into categories, and the categories presented on amobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, at least one mobile subscriber characteristic may beused as a parameter for aggregating search results into categories. Themobile subscriber characteristics 112 may include location, personalinformation, history of the user's web interactions, or a plurality ofcharacteristics, such as location and the time of day.

In embodiments, location as determined by a location based service maybe used as a parameter for aggregating search results into categories.Location may be provided by a GPS system or a cell phone triangulationservice.

In embodiments, a search query may be produced in association with afilter algorithm facility 144, the results aggregated in associationwith the search query, and the aggregated results presented on a mobilecommunication facility 102. The algorithm facility 144 may be acollaborative filter where the search is an open web search, or it maybe a recommendation system. The aggregated search results may befiltered through an algorithm facility 144 and the results presented ona mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, results may be aggregated and produced by a resultsfacility 148 and the aggregated results presented on a mobilecommunication facility 102, where the results facility 148 operates inassociation with information relating to the mobile communicationfacility 102. Information relating to the mobile communication facility102 may be mobile subscriber characteristics 112 information.

In embodiments, results may be aggregated into categories of results andthe categories of results presented through a mobile browser facility.

In embodiments, results may be aggregating based, in part, on a searchquery processed through a disambiguation facility 140. Disambiguation ofthe query may take place on the mobile communication facility 102 or ona server application. Disambiguation may involve SMS translation, aspell check algorithm, a spell check table, a phonetic spellingalgorithm, a phonetic spelling table, or a numeric keypad wordtranslation.

In embodiments, results may be aggregated based, in part, on a searchquery processed through a voice recognition facility 160 residing on themobile communication facility 102. Alternatively, the voice recognitionfacility 160 may reside on a remote server or in part on the mobilecommunication facility 102 and in part on a server.

In embodiments, results may be aggregated based at least in part oninformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102, where theinformation resides in a data facility. This information may residelocally on the mobile communication facility 102, or it may be storedremotely, for example in a mobile subscriber characteristics 112database.

In embodiments, search results may be aggregated into categories, wherethe aggregation is based at least in part on a parental controlparameter and the aggregated results presented on a mobile communicationfacility 102. The parental controls 150 may be regulated through aserver application or through the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, search results may be aggregated into categories, wherethe aggregation is based at least in part on a privacy 152 controlparameter and the aggregated results presented on a mobile communicationfacility 102.

In embodiments, search results may be aggregated into categories, wherethe aggregation is associated with a transaction security facility andthe aggregated results presented on a mobile communication facility 102.The transactional security 154 facility may be adapted to enable securetransactions associated with the query classification. The transactionalsecurity 154 facility may involve the protection of privacy 152 and maybe operated in association with parental controls 150, digital rightsmanagement, or identity protection.

In embodiments, search results may be aggregated into categories, wherethe aggregation is based at least in part on carrier business rules 130and the aggregated results presented on a mobile communication facility102. Carrier business rules 130 may include walled garden results,presenting out of garden content, sponsor information, or auctions.Information relating to the mobile communication facility 102 may bemobile subscriber characteristic information.

In embodiments, search results may be aggregated into categories, wherethe aggregation is based at least in part on a sponsor facility and theaggregated results presented on a mobile communication facility 102.Sponsor results may be paid inclusion results, auction results, orpay-per-click results (in connection with a WAP site or a phone number).A sponsor of the sponsored result may receive compensation as a resultof activity associated with a mobile communication facility 102 phonenumber. The presentation of the sponsored results may be formatted as alink or presented as text, as a picture, as a video, or as aninteractive application. Content may be formatted for the mobilecommunication facility 102 and relate to webpage content or links forsyndicated advertisements.

In embodiments, a vendor may be selected in association with a sponsoredlink and the sponsored link downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102 in preparation for an implicit search. The vendor may bepresented with an option of receiving further leads, such as phone orweb leads. The content presented may be information relating to thelocation of the mobile communication facility 102, such as restaurants,entertainment, theaters, and show times. Information may also relate tothe time of day, mobile subscriber characteristics 112, or parentalcontrols 150. The content may include advertisements and may be storedlocally on the mobile communication facility 102 (e.g., in the cachememory) and periodically updated according to the time of day and/orchanges in location of the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a wireless carrier report may be generated in relationto outbound PPC marketing activities. The report may contain informationrelating to search result quality, keyword management, revenuegeneration, and may be segmented by the type of mobile communicationfacility 102 used.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered in a search box associatedwith a mobile communication facility 102, a vendor selected inassociation with a sponsored link, and the sponsored link presented onthe mobile communication facility 102 in response to the search query.The vendor may be presented with an option of receiving further leads,such as phone or web leads.

In embodiments, a vendor may be selected in association with a sponsoredlink and presented the sponsored link on a mobile communication facility102. The vendor may be presented with an option of receiving furtherleads, such as phone or web leads, and may be selected, in part, byinformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a vendor may be selected in association with a sponsoredlink and the sponsored link presented on a mobile communication facility102 in response to a query entered in a query entry 120 facility. Thevendor may be presented with an option of receiving further leads, suchas phone or web leads.

In embodiments, a search may be performed in conjunction with a searchalgorithm facility 144, a search result selected, and a vendorassociated with the search result to form a sponsored link, and thesponsored link may be presented on a mobile communication facility 102.The vendor may be presented with an option of receiving further leads,such as phone or web leads.

In embodiments, content may be delivered from a delivery facility, avendor associated with the content to form a sponsored link, and thesponsored link presented on a mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a vendor may be selected in association with a sponsoredlink, where the selection is based at least in part on at least onemobile subscriber characteristic, and the sponsored link may bepresented on a mobile communication facility 102. The vendor may bepresented with an option of receiving further leads, such as phone orweb leads. The mobile subscriber characteristics 112 may includelocation, personal information, history of the user's web interactions,or a plurality of characteristics, such as location and the time of day.

In embodiments, a search may be performed in conjunction with a locationbased facility, a search result selected, a vendor associated with thesearch result to form a sponsored link, and the sponsored link presentedon a mobile communication facility 102. The vendor may be presented withan option of receiving further leads, such as phone or web leads.Location may be provided by a GPS system or a cell phone triangulationservice.

In embodiments, a search may be performed in conjunction with a filteralgorithm facility 144, a search result selected, a vendor associatedwith the search result to form a sponsored link, and the sponsored linkpresented on a mobile communication facility 102. The vendor may bepresented with an option of receiving further leads, such as phone orweb leads. The algorithm facility 144 may be a collaborative filterwhere the search is an open web search, or it may be a recommendationsystem.

In embodiments, results may be produced from a result facility, a vendorassociated with the search result to form a sponsored link, and thesponsored link presented on a mobile communication facility 102. Thevendor may be presented with an option of receiving further leads, suchas phone or web leads.

In embodiments, a search may be performed using a mobile browserfacility to facilitate the search, a search result selected, a vendorassociated with the search result to form a sponsored link, and thesponsored link presented on a mobile communication facility 102. Thevendor may be presented with an option of receiving further leads, suchas phone or web leads.

In embodiments, a search may be performed in conjunction with adisambiguation facility 140, a search result selected, a vendorassociated with the search result to form a sponsored link, and thesponsored link presented on a mobile communication facility 102. Thevendor may be presented with an option of receiving further leads, suchas phone or web leads. Disambiguation of the query may take place on themobile communication facility 102 or on a server application.Disambiguation may involve SMS translation, a spell check algorithm, aspell check table, a phonetic spelling algorithm, a phonetic spellingtable, or a numeric keypad word translation.

In embodiments, a search may be performed in conjunction with a voicerecognition facility 160, a search result selected, a vendor associatedwith the search result to form a sponsored link, and the sponsored linkpresented on a mobile communication facility 102. The vendor may bepresented with an option of receiving further leads, such as phone orweb leads. The voice recognition facility 160 may reside on the mobilecommunication facility 102, on a remote server, or, in part, on a mobilecommunication facility 102 and, in part, on a remote server.

In embodiments, a search may be performed in conjunction withinformation relating to a mobile communication facility 102, where theinformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102 resides ina data facility. A sponsor link may be formed by selecting a searchresult and associating a vendor with the search result. The sponsor linkmay be presented on a mobile communication facility 102. The vendor maybe presented with an option of receiving further leads, such as phone orweb leads. This information may reside locally on the mobilecommunication facility 102, or it may be stored remotely, for example ina mobile subscriber characteristics 112 database.

In embodiments, a search may be performed in conjunction with a parentalcontrol parameter, a search result selected, a vendor associated withthe search result to form a sponsored link, and the sponsored linkpresented on a mobile communication facility 102. The vendor may bepresented with an option of receiving further leads, such as phone orweb leads. The parental control parameter may be regulated through aserver application or through the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a search may be performed in conjunction with a privacy152 facility, a search result selected, a vendor associated with thesearch result to form a sponsored link, and the sponsored link presentedon a mobile communication facility 102. The vendor may be presented withan option of receiving further leads, such as phone or web leads.

In embodiments, a search may be performed in conjunction with atransactional security 154 facility, a search result selected, a vendorassociated with the search result to form a sponsored link, and thesponsored link presented on a mobile communication facility 102. Thevendor may be presented with an option of receiving further leads, suchas phone or web leads. The transactional security 154 facility may beadapted to enable secure transactions associated with the queryclassification. The transactional security 154 facility may involve theprotection of privacy 152 and may be operated in association withparental controls 150, digital rights management, or identityprotection.

In embodiments, a search may be performed in conjunction with carrierbusiness rules 130, a search result selected, a vendor associated withthe search result to form a sponsored link, and the sponsored linkpresented on a mobile communication facility 102. The vendor may bepresented with an option of receiving further leads, such as phone orweb leads. Carrier business rules 130 may include walled garden results,presenting out of garden content, sponsor information, or auctions.Information relating to the mobile communication facility 102 may bemobile subscriber characteristic information.

In embodiments, a search may be performed in conjunction with asponsored facility, a search result selected, a vendor associated withthe search result to form a sponsored link, and the sponsored linkpresented on a mobile communication facility 102. The vendor may bepresented with an option of receiving further leads, such as phone orweb leads. Sponsor results may be paid inclusion results, auctionresults, or pay-per-click results (in connection with a WAP site or aphone number). A sponsor of the sponsored result may receivecompensation as a result of activity associated with a mobilecommunication facility 102 phone number. The presentation of thesponsored results may be formatted as a link or presented as text, as apicture, as a video, or as an interactive application. Content may beformatted for the mobile communication facility 102 and relate towebpage content or links for syndicated advertisements.

In embodiments, a wireless carrier report may be generated in relationto implicit search results. The report may contain information relatingto the success of the implicit search (e.g., based upon click activityand related searches), search result quality, keyword management,revenue generation, and it may be segmented by the type of mobilecommunication facility 102 used.

In embodiments, a result may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the result is selected based, in part, oninformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102. Followingthis, a search may be performed on the mobile communication facility 102and the results presented in response to the search entered in a searchbox on a mobile communication facility 102. The information relating tothe mobile communication facility 102 may be mobile subscribercharacteristic information, such as location and time of day or a userinterface. The user interface may be adapted to facilitate a user'sselection of what type of results to download or further adapted tofacilitate the selection of at least one of keywords and otherinformation to select the results to download automatically.

In embodiments, a result may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the result is selected based at least in part oninformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102. Followingthis, a search may be performed on the mobile communication facility 102and the results presented in response to the search entered in a searchbox on a mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a result may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the result is selected based at least in part oninformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102. Followingthis, a search may be performed on the mobile communication facility 102and the results presented in response to the search entered in a searchbox on a mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a result may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the result is selected based at least in part oninformation relating to a search algorithm facility 144. Following this,a search may be performed on the mobile communication facility 102 andthe results presented in response to the search entered in a search boxon a mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a result may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the result is selected based at least in part oninformation relating to a delivery facility. Following this, a searchmay be performed on the mobile communication facility 102 and theresults presented in response to the search entered in a search box on amobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a result may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102, wherein the result is selected based at least in part oninformation relating to a mobile subscriber characteristic. Followingthis, a search may be performed on the mobile communication facility 102and the results presented in response to the search entered in a searchbox on a mobile communication facility 102. The mobile subscribercharacteristics 112 may include location, personal information, historyof the user's web interactions, or a plurality of characteristics, suchas location and the time of day.

In embodiments, a result may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the result is selected based, in part, oninformation relating to a location as determined by a location basedservice. Location may be provided by a GPS system or a cell phonetriangulation service. Following this, a search may be performed on themobile communication facility 102 and the results presented in responseto the search entered in a search box on a mobile communication facility102.

In embodiments, a result may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the result is selected based at least in part oninformation relating to a filter algorithm facility 144. The algorithmfacility 144 may be a collaborative filter where the search is an openweb search, or it may be a recommendation system. Following this, asearch may be performed on the mobile communication facility 102 and theresults presented in response to the search entered in a search box on amobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a result may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the result is selected based at least in part oninformation relating to a results facility 148. Following this, a searchmay be performed on the mobile communication facility 102 and theresults presented in response to the search entered in a search box on amobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a result may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the result is selected based at least in part oninformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102. Followingthis, a search may be performed on the mobile communication facility 102and the results presented in response to the search entered in a searchbox on a mobile communication facility 102. The presentation may befacilitated by a mobile browser facility.

In embodiments, a result may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the result is selected based at least in part oninformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102. Followingthis, a search may be performed on the mobile communication facility 102and the results presented in response to the disambiguated search.Disambiguation of the query may take place on the mobile communicationfacility 102 or on a server application. Disambiguation may involve SMStranslation, a spell check algorithm, a spell check table, a phoneticspelling algorithm, a phonetic spelling table, or a numeric keypad wordtranslation.

In embodiments, a result may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the result is selected based, in part, oninformation relating to the voice recognition facility 160 of the mobilecommunication facility 102. Following this, a search may be performed onthe mobile communication facility 102 and the results presented inresponse to the search. The voice recognition facility 160 may reside onthe mobile communication facility 102, on a remote server, or, in part,on a mobile communication facility 102 and, in part, on a remote server.

In embodiments, a result may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the result is selected based, in part, oninformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102. Thisinformation may reside locally on the mobile communication facility 102,or it may be stored remotely, for example in a mobile subscribercharacteristics 112 database. Following this, a search may be performedon the mobile communication facility 102 and the results presented inresponse to the search

In embodiments, a result may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the result is selected based, in part, oninformation relating to a parental control parameter. The parentalcontrol parameter may be regulated through a server application orthrough the mobile communication facility 102. Following this, a searchmay be performed on the mobile communication facility 102 and theresults presented in response to the search.

In embodiments, a result may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the result is selected based, in part, oninformation relating to a privacy 152 parameter.

In embodiments, a result may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the result is selected based, in part, oninformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102. A searchmay be performed on the mobile communication facility 102 and the resultassociated with a transactional security facility 154. The transactionalsecurity 154 facility may involve the protection of privacy 152 and maybe operated in association with parental controls 150, digital rightsmanagement, or identity protection.

In embodiments, a result may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the result is selected based at least in part oninformation relating to carrier business rules 130, a search performedon a mobile communication facility 102, and the result presented inresponse to the search. Carrier business rules 130 may include walledgarden results, presenting out of garden content, sponsor information,or auctions. Information relating to the mobile communication facility102 may be mobile subscriber characteristic information.

In embodiments, a result may be downloaded to a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the result is selected based at least in part oninformation relating to a sponsor facility, a search performed on amobile communication facility 102, and the result presented in responseto the search. Sponsor results may be paid inclusion results, auctionresults, or pay-per-click results (in connection with a WAP site or aphone number). A sponsor of the sponsored result may receivecompensation as a result of activity associated with a mobilecommunication facility 102 phone number. The presentation of thesponsored results may be formatted as a link or presented as text, as apicture, as a video, or as an interactive application. Content may beformatted for the mobile communication facility 102 and relate towebpage content or links for syndicated advertisements.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered in a search box on amobile communicating facility and a syndicated advertising resultproduced. The syndicated advertising result may be displayed on a mobilecommunication facility 102 as a sponsored link. Syndicated advertisingmay be placed in, and prioritized within, the result set on the basis ofan auction among sponsors. Furthermore, the auction may be associatedwith information relating to the mobile communication facility 102, suchas mobile subscriber characteristics 112.

In embodiments, a syndicated advertising result may be produced on amobile communication facility 102. The syndicated advertising result maybe displayed on a mobile communication facility 102 as a sponsored link.Syndicated advertising may be placed in, and prioritized within, theresult set on the basis of an auction among sponsors. Furthermore, theauction may be associated with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, such as mobile subscriber characteristics112.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered in a query entry 120facility on a mobile communication facility 102 and a syndicatedadvertising result produced. The syndicated advertising result may bedisplayed on a mobile communication facility 102 as a sponsored link.Syndicated advertising may be placed in, and prioritized within, theresult set on the basis of an auction among sponsors. Furthermore, theauction may be associated with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, such as mobile subscriber characteristics112.

In embodiments, a syndicated advertising result may be produced on amobile communication facility 102, where the syndicated advertisingresults are produced in association with a search algorithm facility144. The syndicated advertising result may be displayed on a mobilecommunication facility 102 as a sponsored link. Syndicated advertisingmay be placed in, and prioritized within, the result set on the basis ofan auction among sponsors. Furthermore, the auction may be associatedwith information relating to the mobile communication facility 102, suchas mobile subscriber characteristics 112.

In embodiments, a syndicated advertising result may be produced on amobile communication facility 102, where the syndicated advertisingresult is produced in association with a delivery facility. Thesyndicated advertising result may be displayed on a mobile communicationfacility 102 as a sponsored link. Syndicated advertising may be placedin, and prioritized within, the result set on the basis of an auctionamong sponsors. Furthermore, the auction may be associated withinformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102, such asmobile subscriber characteristics 112.

In embodiments, a syndicated advertising result may be produced on amobile communication facility 102, where the syndicated advertisingresult is produced in association with mobile subscriber characteristicinformation. The syndicated advertising result may be displayed on amobile communication facility 102 as a sponsored link. Syndicatedadvertising may be placed in, and prioritized within, the result set onthe basis of an auction among sponsors. Furthermore, the auction may beassociated with information relating to the mobile communicationfacility 102, such as mobile subscriber characteristics 112. The mobilesubscriber characteristics 112 may include location, personalinformation, history of the user's web interactions, or a plurality ofcharacteristics, such as location and the time of day.

In embodiments, a syndicated advertising result may be produced on amobile communication facility 102, where the syndicated advertisingresult is produced in association with a location as determined throughthe use of a location based service. The syndicated advertising resultmay be displayed on a mobile communication facility 102 as a sponsoredlink. Syndicated advertising may be placed in, and prioritized within,the result set on the basis of an auction among sponsors. Furthermore,the auction may be associated with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, such as mobile subscriber characteristics112. Location may be provided by a GPS system or a cell phonetriangulation service.

In embodiments, a syndicated advertising result may be produced on amobile communication facility 102, where the syndicated advertisingresult is produced in association with a filter algorithm facility 144.The syndicated advertising result may be displayed on a mobilecommunication facility 102 as a sponsored link. Syndicated advertisingmay be placed in, and prioritized within, the result set on the basis ofan auction among sponsors. Furthermore, the auction may be associatedwith information relating to the mobile communication facility 102, suchas mobile subscriber characteristics 112. The algorithm facility 144 maybe a collaborative filter where the search is an open web search, or itmay be a recommendation system.

In embodiments, a syndicated advertising result may be produced on amobile communication facility 102, where the syndicated advertisingresult is produced in association with a results facility 148. Thesyndicated advertising result may be displayed on a mobile communicationfacility 102 as a sponsored link. Syndicated advertising may be placedin, and prioritized within, the result set on the basis of an auctionamong sponsors. Furthermore, the auction may be associated withinformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102, such asmobile subscriber characteristics 112.

In embodiments, a syndicated advertising result may be produced on amobile communication facility 102, where the syndicated advertisingresult is produced in association with a mobile browser facility. Thesyndicated advertising result may be displayed on a mobile communicationfacility 102 as a sponsored link. Syndicated advertising may be placedin, and prioritized within, the result set on the basis of an auctionamong sponsors. Furthermore, the auction may be associated withinformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102, such asmobile subscriber characteristics 112.

In embodiments, a syndicated advertising result may be produced on amobile communication facility 102, where the syndicated advertisingresult is produced in association with a search query processed througha disambiguation facility 140. The syndicated advertising result may bedisplayed on a mobile communication facility 102 as a sponsored link.Syndicated advertising may be placed in, and prioritized within, theresult set on the basis of an auction among sponsors. Furthermore, theauction may be associated with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, such as mobile subscriber characteristics112. Disambiguation of the query may take place on the mobilecommunication facility 102 or on a server application. Disambiguationmay involve SMS translation, a spell check algorithm, a spell checktable, a phonetic spelling algorithm, a phonetic spelling table, or anumeric keypad word translation.

In embodiments, a syndicated advertising result may be produced on amobile communication facility 102, where the syndicated advertisingresult is produced in association with a query entered through a voicerecognition facility 160. The syndicated advertising result may bedisplayed on a mobile communication facility 102 as a sponsored link.Syndicated advertising may be placed in, and prioritized within, theresult set on the basis of an auction among sponsors. Furthermore, theauction may be associated with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, such as mobile subscriber characteristics112. The voice recognition facility 160 may reside on the mobilecommunication facility 102, on a remote server, or, in part, on a mobilecommunication facility 102 and, in part, on a remote server.

In embodiments, a syndicated advertising result may be produced on amobile communication facility 102, where the syndicated advertisingresult is produced in association with information relating to themobile communication facility 102. The information relating to themobile communication facility 102 may be stored in a data facility. Thesyndicated advertising result may be displayed on a mobile communicationfacility 102 as a sponsored link. Syndicated advertising may be placedin, and prioritized within, the result set on the basis of an auctionamong sponsors. Furthermore, the auction may be associated withinformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102, such asmobile subscriber characteristics 112. This information related to themobile communication facility 102 may reside locally on the mobilecommunication facility 102, or it may be stored remotely, for example ina mobile subscriber characteristics 112 database.

In embodiments, a syndicated advertising result may be produced on amobile communication facility 102, where the syndicated advertisingresult is produced in association with a parental control parameter. Thesyndicated advertising result may be displayed on a mobile communicationfacility 102 as a sponsored link. Syndicated advertising may be placedin, and prioritized within, the result set on the basis of an auctionamong sponsors. Furthermore, the auction may be associated withinformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102, such asmobile subscriber characteristics 112. The parental control parametermay be regulated through a server application or through the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, a syndicated advertising result may be produced on amobile communication facility 102 where the syndicated advertisingresult is produced in association with a privacy 152 facility. Thesyndicated advertising result may be displayed on a mobile communicationfacility 102 as a sponsored link. Syndicated advertising may be placedin, and prioritized within, the result set on the basis of an auctionamong sponsors. Furthermore, the auction may be associated withinformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102, such asmobile subscriber characteristics 112. The privacy facility 152 may beadapted to provide secure search transaction and secure economictransactions.

In embodiments, a syndicated advertising result may be produced on amobile communication facility 102, where the syndicated advertisingresult is associated with a transactional security 154 facility. Thesyndicated advertising result may be displayed on a mobile communicationfacility 102 as a sponsored link. Syndicated advertising may be placedin, and prioritized within, the result set on the basis of an auctionamong sponsors. Furthermore, the auction may be associated withinformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102, such asmobile subscriber characteristics 112. The transactional security 154facility may involve the protection of privacy 152 and may be operatedin association with parental controls 150, digital rights management, oridentity protection.

In embodiments, a syndicated advertising result may be produced on amobile communication facility 102, where the syndicated advertisingresult is produced in association with a carrier's business rules. Thesyndicated advertising result may be displayed on a mobile communicationfacility 102 as a sponsored link. Syndicated advertising may be placedin, and prioritized within, the result set on the basis of an auctionamong sponsors. Furthermore, the auction may be associated withinformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102, such asmobile subscriber characteristics 112. Carrier business rules 130 mayinclude walled garden results, presenting out of garden content, sponsorinformation, or auctions. Information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102 may be mobile subscriber characteristicinformation.

In embodiments, a syndicated advertising result may be produced on amobile communication facility 102, where the syndicated advertisingresult is produced in association with a sponsor facility. Thesyndicated advertising result may be displayed on a mobile communicationfacility 102 as a sponsored link. Syndicated advertising may be placedin, and prioritized within, the result set on the basis of an auctionamong sponsors. Furthermore, the auction may be associated withinformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102, such asmobile subscriber characteristics 112. Sponsor results may be paidinclusion results, auction results, or pay-per-click results (inconnection with a WAP site or a phone number). A sponsor of thesponsored result may receive compensation as a result of activityassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 phone number. Thepresentation of the sponsored results may be formatted as a link orpresented as text, as a picture, as a video, or as an interactiveapplication. Content may be formatted for the mobile communicationfacility 102 and relate to webpage content or links for syndicatedadvertisements.

In embodiments, a search query entry 120 facility may be associated witha mobile communication facility 102 where the search query entry 120facility is further associated with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, such as mobile subscriber characteristicinformation.

In embodiments, a search algorithm facility 144 may be associated with amobile communication facility 102 where the search algorithm facility144 is further associated with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, a results delivery facility may be associated with amobile communication facility 102 where the delivery facility is furtherassociated with information relating to the mobile communicationfacility 102.

In embodiments, a search may be performed on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the search is at least in part based on a mobilesubscriber characteristic. The mobile subscriber characteristics 112 mayinclude location, personal information, history of the user's webinteractions, or a plurality of characteristics, such as location andthe time of day.

In embodiments, a search may be performed on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the search is at least in part based on a locationas determined by a location based service. Location may be provided by aGPS system or a cell phone triangulation service.

In embodiments, a search may be performed on a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the search is, in part, based on a location asdetermined by a location based service. Location may be provided by aGPS system or a cell phone triangulation service. A search may also beperformed on a mobile communication facility 102, where the search is atleast in part based on a filter algorithm facility 144. The algorithmfacility 144 may be a collaborative filter where the search is an openweb search, or it may be a recommendation system.

In embodiments, a results facility 148 may be associated with a mobilecommunication facility 102, where the results facility 148 is adapted toproduce results, in part, based on information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, a mobile browser facility may be associated with amobile communication facility 102, where the mobile browser facility isadapted to facilitate the selection of results, in part, based oninformation relating to the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a disambiguation facility 140 may be associated with amobile communication facility 102. Disambiguation of the query may takeplace on the mobile communication facility 102 or on a serverapplication. Disambiguation may involve SMS translation, a spell checkalgorithm, a spell check table, a phonetic spelling algorithm, aphonetic spelling table, or a numeric keypad word translation.

In embodiments, a voice recognition search query entry 120 facility maybe associated with a mobile communication facility 102. The voicerecognition facility 160 may reside on the mobile communication facility102, on a remote server, or, in part, on a mobile communication facility102 and, in part, on a remote server.

In embodiments, a data facility may be associated with a mobilecommunication facility 102, where the data facility stores informationrelating to the mobile communication facility 102 and the data facilityis adapted to be accessed in relation to providing search results to themobile communication facility 102. The data facility may reside locallyon the mobile communication facility 102, or it may be stored remotely,for example in a mobile subscriber characteristics 112 database.

In embodiments, a parental control facility may be associated with amobile communication facility 102. The parental control parameter may beregulated through a server application or through the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, a privacy facility 152 may be associated with a mobilecommunication facility 102. The privacy facility 152 may be adapted toprovide secure search transactions and secure economic transactions.

In embodiments, a transactional security facility 154 may be associatedwith a mobile communication facility 102, where the transactionalsecurity facility 154 is adapted to provide secure transactionsassociated with search results obtained on the mobile communicationfacility 102. The transactional security facility 154 may involve theprotection of privacy 152 and may be operated in association withparental controls 150, digital rights management, or identityprotection.

In embodiments, a carrier business rule facility may be associated witha mobile communication facility 102, where the carrier business rulefacility is adapted to be accessed in the process of providing searchresults to the mobile communication facility 102. Carrier business rules130 may include walled garden results, presenting out of garden content,sponsor information, or auctions. Information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102 may be mobile subscriber characteristicinformation.

In embodiments, a sponsor facility may be associated with a mobilecommunication facility 102, where the sponsor facility is adapted to beaccessed in the process of providing results to the mobile communicationfacility 102. Sponsor results may be paid inclusion results, auctionresults, or pay-per-click results (in connection with a WAP site or aphone number). A sponsor of the sponsored result may receivecompensation as a result of activity associated with a mobilecommunication facility 102 phone number. The presentation of thesponsored results may be formatted as a link or presented as text, as apicture, as a video, or as an interactive application. Content may beformatted for the mobile communication facility 102 and relate towebpage content or links for syndicated advertisements.

In embodiments, a search query may be entered on a search query entry120 facility associated with a mobile communication facility 102 and asearch performed through a search algorithm facility 144. The search maybe based, in part, on information relating to the mobile communicationfacility 102, such as mobile subscriber characteristic information.

In embodiments, a search may be performed through a search algorithmfacility 144, where the search is based, in part, on informationrelating to a mobile communication facility 102 and delivers searchresults through the use of a delivery facility.

In embodiments, a search may be performed through a search algorithmfacility 144, where the search is based at least in part on mobilesubscriber characteristic information. The mobile subscribercharacteristics 112 may include location, personal information, historyof the user's web interactions, or a plurality of characteristics, suchas, location and the time of day.

In embodiments, a search may be performed through a search algorithmfacility 144, where the search is based at least in part on a locationas determined through the use of a location based facility. The searchmay be further based on information relating to the mobile communicationfacility 102, such as mobile subscriber characteristics 112. Locationmay be provided by a GPS system or a cell phone triangulation service.

In embodiments, a search may be performed through a search algorithmfacility 144 associated with a mobile communication facility 102, wherethe search is based at least in part on information relating to a filteralgorithm facility 144. The algorithm facility 144 may be acollaborative filter where the search is an open web search, or it maybe a recommendation system.

In embodiments, a search may be performed through a search algorithmfacility 144 associated with a mobile communication facility 102 andproduce search results from a results facility 148. The search may bebased on information relating to the mobile communication facility 102,such as mobile subscriber characteristics 112.

In embodiments, a search may be performed through a search algorithmfacility 144, where the search is facilitated through a mobile browserfacility. The search may be based on information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102, such as mobile subscriber characteristics112.

In embodiments, a search may be performed through a search algorithmfacility 144 associated with a mobile communication facility 102, wherethe search is based at least in part on a search query processed througha disambiguation facility 140. The search may be based on informationrelating to the mobile communication facility 102, such as mobilesubscriber characteristics 112. Disambiguation of the query may takeplace on the mobile communication facility 102 or on a serverapplication. Disambiguation may involve SMS translation, a spell checkalgorithm, a spell check table, a phonetic spelling algorithm, aphonetic spelling table, or a numeric keypad word translation.

In embodiments, a search may be performed through a voice recognitionfacility 160 associated with a mobile communication facility 102 and asearch performed through a search algorithm facility 144. The search maybe based on information relating to the mobile communication facility102, such as mobile subscriber characteristics 112. The voicerecognition facility 160 may reside on the mobile communication facility102, on a remote server, or, in part, on a mobile communication facility102 and, in part, on a remote server.

In embodiments, a search may be performed through a search algorithmfacility 144, where the search is based, in part, on informationrelating to the mobile communication facility 102 and resides in a datafacility. The data facility may reside locally on the mobilecommunication facility 102, or it may be stored remotely, for example ina mobile subscriber characteristics 112 database.

In embodiments, a search may be performed through a search algorithmfacility 144 associated with a mobile communication facility 102, wherethe search is based, in part, on a parental control parameter. Theparental control parameter may be regulated through a server applicationor through the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a search may be performed through a search algorithmfacility 144, where the search is based at least in part on a privacyfacility 152. The privacy facility 152 may be adapted to provide securesearch transactions and secure economic transactions.

In embodiments, a search may be performed through a search algorithmfacility 144, where a search result based on the search is associatedwith a transactional security facility 154. The transactional securityfacility 154 may involve the protection of privacy 152 and may beoperated in association with parental controls 150, digital rightsmanagement, or identity protection.

In embodiments, a search may be performed through a search algorithmfacility 144, where the search is based at least in part on carrierbusiness rules 130. Carrier business rules 130 may include walled gardenresults, presenting out of garden content, sponsor information, orauctions. Information relating to the mobile communication facility 102may be mobile subscriber characteristic information.

In embodiments, a search may be performed through a search algorithmfacility 144, where the search is related to a sponsor facility. Sponsorresults may be paid inclusion results, auction results, or pay-per-clickresults (in connection with a WAP site or a phone number). A sponsor ofthe sponsored result may receive compensation as a result of activityassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 phone number. Thepresentation of the sponsored results may be formatted as a link orpresented as text, as a picture, as a video, or as an interactiveapplication. Content may be formatted for the mobile communicationfacility 102 and relate to webpage content or links for syndicatedadvertisements.

In embodiments, a search may be performed based, in part, on a mobilesubscriber characteristics 112 facility, where the search is furtherbased, in part, on a location as determined by a location based service.Location may be provided by a GPS system or a cell phone triangulationservice.

In embodiments, a search may be performed based, in part, on a mobilesubscriber characteristics 112 facility, where the search is furtherbased at least in part on a filter algorithm facility 144. The algorithmfacility 144 may be a collaborative filter where the search is an openweb search, or it may be a recommendation system.

In embodiments, a search may be performed based, in part, on a mobilesubscriber characteristics facility 112 and produce results related tothe search from a results facility 148.

In embodiments, a search may be performed based, in part, on a mobilesubscriber characteristics facility 112, where the search is facilitatedthrough the use of a mobile browser facility.

In embodiments, a search may be performed based, in part, on a mobilesubscriber characteristics facility 112, where the search is furtherbased at least in part on a disambiguated search query. Disambiguationof the query may take place on the mobile communication facility 102 oron a server application. Disambiguation may involve SMS translation, aspell check algorithm, a spell check table, a phonetic spellingalgorithm, a phonetic spelling table, or a numeric keypad wordtranslation.

In embodiments, a search may be performed based, in part, on a mobilesubscriber characteristics facility 112, where the search is furtherbased, in part, on a search query processed through a voice recognitionfacility 160. The voice recognition facility 160 may reside on themobile communication facility 102, on a remote server, or, in part, on amobile communication facility 102 and, in part, on a remote server.

In embodiments, a search may be performed based, in part, on a mobilesubscriber characteristics facility 112, where the mobile subscribercharacteristics 112 facility stores information in a data facility. Thedata facility may reside locally on the mobile communication facility102, or it may be stored remotely, for example in a mobile subscribercharacteristics database 112.

In embodiments, a search may be performed based, in part, on a mobilesubscriber characteristics facility 112, where the search is furtherbased at least in part on a parental control parameter. The parentalcontrol parameter may be regulated through a server application orthrough the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a search may be performed based, in part, on a mobilesubscriber characteristics facility 112, where the search is furtherbased, in part, on a privacy facility 152.

In embodiments, a search may be performed based, in part, on a mobilesubscriber characteristics facility 112, where a search result producedin response to the search is associated with a transactional securityfacility 154. The transactional security facility 154 may involve theprotection of privacy 152 and may be operated in association withparental controls 150, digital rights management, or identityprotection.

In embodiments, a search may be performed based, in part, on a mobilesubscriber characteristics facility 112, where the search is furtherbased, in part, on a carrier business rule. Carrier business rules 130may include walled garden results, presenting out of garden content,sponsor information, or auctions. Information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102 may be mobile subscriber characteristicinformation.

In embodiments, a search may be performed based, in part, on a mobilesubscriber characteristics facility 112, where a result produced inresponse to the search is associated with a sponsor facility. Sponsorresults may be paid inclusion results, auction results, or pay-per-clickresults (in connection with a WAP site or a phone number). A sponsor ofthe sponsored result may receive compensation as a result of activityassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 phone number. Thepresentation of the sponsored results may be formatted as a link orpresented as text, as a picture, as a video, or as an interactiveapplication. Content may be formatted for the mobile communicationfacility 102 and relate to webpage content or links for syndicatedadvertisements.

In embodiments, the user of a mobile communication facility may use thequery facility of the mobile communication facility to search for radioand or television programming. The search result may provide a schedulelist of current and or upcoming programs. The search result may providelinks to listen to and or view the radio or television content. Thesearch result may provide a means for selecting a radio or televisionprogram to be recorded. The mobile communication facility may be adaptedto permit the query facility to play, pause, rewind, or fast-forward theradio or television content.

In embodiments, a mobile communication facility 102 may be locatedthrough the use of a location based service and the location used inassociation with a filter algorithm facility 144 to perform a search.The algorithm facility 144 may be a collaborative filter where thesearch is an open web search, or it may be a recommendation system.

In embodiments, a mobile communication facility 102 may be locatedthrough the use of a location based service and the location used inassociation with a result facility to obtain search results.

In embodiments, a mobile communication facility 102 may be locatedthrough the use of a location based service and the location used inassociation with a mobile browser facility to obtain search results.

In embodiments, a mobile communication facility 102 may be locatedthrough the use of a location based service and the location used inassociation with a disambiguation facility 140 to obtain search results.Disambiguation of the query may take place on the mobile communicationfacility 102 or on a server application. Disambiguation may involve SMStranslation, a spell check algorithm, a spell check table, a phoneticspelling algorithm, a phonetic spelling table, or a numeric keypad wordtranslation.

In embodiments, a mobile communication facility 102 may be locatedthrough the use of a location based service and the location used inassociation with a voice recognition facility 160 to obtain searchresults. The voice recognition facility 160 may reside on the mobilecommunication facility 102, on a remote server, or, in part, on a mobilecommunication facility 102 and, in part, on a remote server.

In embodiments, a mobile communication facility 102 may be locatedthrough the use of a location based service and the location used inassociation with a data facility to obtain search results. The datafacility may reside locally on the mobile communication facility 102, orit may be stored remotely, for example, in a mobile subscribercharacteristics 112 database.

In embodiments, a mobile communication facility 102 may be locatedthrough the use of a location based service and the location used inassociation with a parental control facility to obtain search results.The parental control parameter may be regulated through a serverapplication or through the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a mobile communication facility 102 may be locatedthrough the use of a location based service and the location used inassociation with a privacy 152 facility to obtain search results. Theprivacy 152 facility may be adapted to provide secure searchtransactions or secure economic transactions.

In embodiments, a mobile communication facility 102 may be locatedthrough the use of a location based service and the location used inassociation with a search facility 142 to obtain a search result, wherethe search result is associated with a transactional security 154facility. The transactional security 154 facility may involve theprotection of privacy 152 and may be operated in association withparental controls 150, digital rights management, or identityprotection.

In embodiments, a mobile communication facility 102 may be locatedthrough the use of a location based service and the location used inassociation with a carrier business rule to obtain search results.Carrier business rules 130 may include walled garden results, presentingout of garden content, sponsor information, or auctions. Informationrelating to the mobile communication facility 102 may be mobilesubscriber characteristic information.

In embodiments, a mobile communication facility 102 may be locatedthrough the use of a location based service and the location used inassociation with a sponsor facility to obtain search results. Sponsorresults may be paid inclusion results, auction results, or pay-per-clickresults (in connection with a WAP site or a phone number). A sponsor ofthe sponsored result may receive compensation as a result of activityassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 phone number. Thepresentation of the sponsored results may be formatted as a link orpresented as text, as a picture, as a video, or as an interactiveapplication. Content may be formatted for the mobile communicationfacility 102 and relate to webpage content or links for syndicatedadvertisements.

In embodiments, a filter algorithm facility 144 may be associated with amobile communication facility 102 and the filter algorithm facility 144may be used in the process of obtaining a search result.

In embodiments, a filter algorithm facility 144 may be associated with amobile browser facility and the filter algorithm facility 144 used inthe process of obtaining a search result.

In embodiments, a filter algorithm facility 144 may be associated with amobile communication facility 102 and a disambiguation facility 140.Disambiguation of the query may take place on the mobile communicationfacility 102 or on a server application. Disambiguation may involve SMStranslation, a spell check algorithm, a spell check table, a phoneticspelling algorithm, a phonetic spelling table, or a numeric keypad wordtranslation.

In embodiments, a filter algorithm facility 144 may be associated with amobile communication facility 102 and a voice recognition facility 160.The voice recognition facility 160 may reside on the mobilecommunication facility 102, on a remote server, or, in part, on a mobilecommunication facility 102 and, in part, on a remote server.

In embodiments, a filter algorithm facility 144 may be associated with amobile communication facility 102 and a data facility. The data facilitymay reside locally on the mobile communication facility 102, or it maybe stored remotely, for example, in a mobile subscriber characteristics112 database.

In embodiments, a filter algorithm facility 144 may be associated with amobile communication facility 102 and a parental control facility. Theparental control parameter may be regulated through a server applicationor through the mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a filter algorithm facility 144 may be associated with amobile communication facility 102 and a privacy 152 facility. Theprivacy 152 facility may be adapted to provide secure searchtransactions or secure economic transactions.

In embodiments, a filter algorithm facility 144 may be associated with amobile communication facility 102 and a transactional security facility154. The transactional security facility 154 may involve the protectionof privacy 152 and may be operated in association with parental controls150, digital rights management, or identity protection.

In embodiments, a filter algorithm facility 144 may be associated with amobile communication facility 102 and a carrier business rule. Carrierbusiness rules 130 may include walled garden results, presenting out ofgarden content, sponsor information, or auctions. Information relatingto the mobile communication facility 102 may be mobile subscribercharacteristic information.

In embodiments, a filter algorithm facility 144 may be associated with amobile communication facility 102 and a sponsor facility. Sponsorresults may be paid inclusion results, auction results, or pay-per-clickresults (in connection with a WAP site or a phone number). A sponsor ofthe sponsored result may receive compensation as a result of activityassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 phone number. Thepresentation of the sponsored results may be formatted as a link orpresented as text, as a picture, as a video, or as an interactiveapplication. Content may be formatted for the mobile communicationfacility 102 and relate to webpage content or links for syndicatedadvertisements.

In embodiments, a mobile browser facility may be associated with adisambiguation facility 140. Disambiguation of the query may take placeon the mobile communication facility 102 or on a server application.Disambiguation may involve SMS translation, a spell check algorithm, aspell check table, a phonetic spelling algorithm, a phonetic spellingtable, or a numeric keypad word translation.

In embodiments, a mobile browser facility may be associated with a voicerecognition facility 160, and the mobile browser facility may be used inthe process of obtaining search results. Additionally, a filteralgorithm facility 144 may be used in the process of obtaining results.The voice recognition facility 160 may reside on the mobilecommunication facility 102, on a remote server, or, in part, on a mobilecommunication facility 102 and, in part, on a remote server.

In embodiments, a mobile browser facility may be associated with a datafacility, where information relating to a mobile communication is storedin an associated data facility. The data facility may reside locally onthe mobile communication facility 102, or it may be stored remotely, forexample in a mobile subscriber characteristics 112 database.

In embodiments, a mobile browser facility may be associated with aparental control facility, and the mobile browser facility may be usedin the process of obtaining search results. The parental controlparameter may be regulated through a server application or through themobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a mobile browser facility may be associated with aprivacy 152 facility, and the mobile browser facility may be used in theprocess of obtaining search results. The privacy 152 facility may beadapted to provide secure search transactions or secure economictransactions.

In embodiments, a mobile browser facility may be associated with atransactional security facility 154. The transactional security facility154 may involve the protection of privacy 152 and may be operated inassociation with parental controls 150, digital rights management, oridentity protection.

In embodiments, a mobile browser facility may be associated with acarrier business rules facility 130. Carrier business rules 130 mayinclude walled garden results, presenting out of garden content, sponsorinformation, or auctions. Information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102 may be mobile subscriber characteristicinformation.

In embodiments, a mobile browser facility may be associated with asponsor facility, and the mobile browser facility may be used in theprocess of obtaining search results. Sponsor results may be paidinclusion results, auction results, or pay-per-click results (inconnection with a WAP site or a phone number). A sponsor of thesponsored result may receive compensation as a result of activityassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 phone number. Thepresentation of the sponsored results may be formatted as a link orpresented as text, as a picture, as a video, or as an interactiveapplication. Content may be formatted for the mobile communicationfacility 102 and relate to webpage content or links for syndicatedadvertisements.

In embodiments, a disambiguation facility 140 may be associated with avoice recognition facility 160 and a mobile communication facility 102,and a disambiguation facility 140 or algorithm facility 144 may be usedin the process of obtaining search results. The voice recognitionfacility 160 may reside on the mobile communication facility 102, on aremote server, or, in part, on a mobile communication facility 102 and,in part, on a remote server.

In embodiments, a disambiguation facility 140 may be associated with avoice data facility, where information relating to a mobilecommunication facility 102 is stored in the data facility. The datafacility may reside locally on the mobile communication facility 102 orit may be stored remotely, for example in a mobile subscribercharacteristics 112 database.

In embodiments, a disambiguation facility 140 may be associated with avoice parental control facility and a mobile communication facility 102,and the disambiguation facility 140 may be used in the process ofobtaining search results. The parental control parameter may beregulated through a server application or through the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, a disambiguation facility 140 may be associated with avoice privacy 152 facility and a mobile communication facility 102, andthe disambiguation facility 140 may be used in the process of obtainingsearch results. The privacy 152 facility may be adapted to providesecure search transactions or secure economic transactions.

In embodiments, a disambiguation facility 140 may be associated with avoice transactional security facility 154 and a mobile communicationfacility 102, and the disambiguation facility 140 may be used in theprocess of obtaining search results. The transactional security facility154 may involve the protection of privacy 152 and may be operated inassociation with parental controls 150, digital rights management, oridentity protection.

In embodiments, a disambiguation facility 140 may be associated with avoice carrier rules facility and a mobile communication facility 102,and the disambiguation facility 140 may be used in the process ofobtaining search results. Carrier business rules 130 may include walledgarden results, presenting out of garden content, sponsor information,or auctions. Information relating to the mobile communication facility102 may be mobile subscriber characteristic information.

In embodiments, a disambiguation facility 140 may be associated with avoice sponsor facility and a mobile communication facility 102, and thedisambiguation facility 140 may be used in the process of obtainingsearch results. Sponsor results may be paid inclusion results, auctionresults, or pay-per-click results (in connection with a WAP site or aphone number). A sponsor of the sponsored result may receivecompensation as a result of activity associated with a mobilecommunication facility 102 phone number. The presentation of thesponsored results may be formatted as a link or presented as text, as apicture, as a video, or as an interactive application. Content may beformatted for the mobile communication facility 102 and relate towebpage content or links for syndicated advertisements.

In embodiments, a voice recognition facility 160 may be associated witha data facility, where information relating to a mobile communicationfacility 102 is stored in the data facility, and the voice recognitionfacility 160 is used in the process of obtaining search results. Thedata facility may reside locally on the mobile communication facility102, or it may be stored remotely, for example, in a mobile subscribercharacteristics 112 database.

In embodiments, a voice recognition facility 160 may be associated witha parental control facility and a mobile communication facility 102, andthe voice recognition facility 160 may be used in the process ofobtaining search results. The parental control parameter may beregulated through a server application or through the mobilecommunication facility 102.

In embodiments, a voice recognition facility 160 may be associated witha privacy facility 152 and a mobile communication facility 102, and thevoice recognition facility 160 may be used in the process of obtainingsearch results. The privacy facility 152 may be adapted to providesecure search transactions or secure economic transactions.

In embodiments, a voice recognition facility 160 may be associated witha transactional control facility and a mobile communication facility102, and the voice recognition facility 160 may be used in the processof obtaining search results. The transactional security facility 154 mayinvolve the protection of privacy 152 and may be operated in associationwith parental controls 150, digital rights management, or identityprotection.

In embodiments, a voice recognition facility 160 may be associated witha carrier business rules 130 facility and a mobile communicationfacility 102, and the voice recognition facility 160 may be in theprocess of obtaining search results. Carrier business rules 130 mayinclude walled garden results, presenting out of garden content, sponsorinformation, or auctions. Information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102 may be mobile subscriber characteristicinformation.

In embodiments, a voice recognition facility 160 may be associated witha sponsor facility and a mobile communication facility 102, and thevoice recognition facility 160 may be used in the process of obtainingsearch results. Sponsor results may be paid inclusion results, auctionresults, or pay-per-click results (in connection with a WAP site or aphone number). A sponsor of the sponsored result may receivecompensation as a result of activity associated with a mobilecommunication facility 102 phone number. The presentation of thesponsored results may be formatted as a link or presented as text, as apicture, as a video, or as an interactive application. Content may beformatted for the mobile communication facility 102 and relate towebpage content or links for syndicated advertisements.

In embodiments, a parental control facility may be associated with aprivacy 152 facility and a mobile communication facility 102 and use theparental control facility in the process of obtaining search results.The privacy 152 facility may be adapted to provide secure searchtransactions or secure economic transactions.

In embodiments, a parental control facility may be associated with atransactional security facility 154 and a mobile communication facility102, and the parental control facility may be used in the process ofobtaining search results. The transactional security facility 154 mayinvolve the protection of privacy 152 and may be operated in associationwith parental controls 150, digital rights management, or identityprotection.

In embodiments, a parental control facility may be associated with acarrier business rules 130 facility and a mobile communication facility102, and the parental control facility may be used in the process ofobtaining search results. Carrier business rules 130 may include walledgarden results, presenting out of garden content, sponsor information,or auctions. Information relating to the mobile communication facility102 may be mobile subscriber characteristic information.

In embodiments, a parental control facility may be associated with asponsor facility and a mobile communication facility 102, and theparental control facility may be used in the process of obtaining searchresults. Sponsor results may be paid inclusion results, auction results,or pay-per-click results (in connection with a WAP site or a phonenumber). A sponsor of the sponsored result may receive compensation as aresult of activity associated with a mobile communication facility 102phone number. The presentation of the sponsored results may be formattedas a link or presented as text, as a picture, as a video, or as aninteractive application. Content may be formatted for the mobilecommunication facility 102 and relate to webpage content or links forsyndicated advertisements.

In embodiments, a privacy 152 facility may be associated with atransactional security 154 facility and a mobile communication facility102, and the privacy 152 facility may be used in the process ofobtaining search results. The transactional security facility 154 mayinvolve the protection of privacy 152 and may be operated in associationwith parental controls 150, digital rights management, or identityprotection.

In embodiments, a privacy 152 facility may be associated with a carrierbusiness rules 130 facility and a mobile communication facility 102, andthe privacy 152 facility may be used in the process of obtaining searchresults. Carrier business rules 130 may include walled garden results,presenting out of garden content, sponsor information, or auctions.Information relating to the mobile communication facility 102 may bemobile subscriber characteristic information.

In embodiments, a privacy 152 facility may be associated with a sponsorfacility and a mobile communication facility 102, and the privacy 152facility may be used in the process of obtaining search results. Sponsorresults may be paid inclusion results, auction results, or pay-per-clickresults (in connection with a WAP site or a phone number). A sponsor ofthe sponsored result may receive compensation as a result of activityassociated with a mobile communication facility 102 phone number. Thepresentation of the sponsored results may be formatted as a link orpresented as text, as a picture, as a video, or as an interactiveapplication. Content may be formatted for the mobile communicationfacility 102 and relate to webpage content or links for syndicatedadvertisements.

In embodiments, mobile communication facility 102 compatible content maybe identified by tracking a plurality of web interactions from a mobileuser device and storing information pertaining to the web interaction ina database, where at least a portion of the information comprisesidentification of the mobile device. The prediction of compatibility ofthe mobile communication facility 102 with content related to the webinteraction may be based, in part, on how many interactions there werein the user's past. Content may be a download, program, file, executablefile, zipped file, compressed file, audio, and video. A web interactionmay be a click on a hyperlink, an indication to download content, and/oran indication to download a program. Prediction includes a prediction ofcompatibility when the number of interactions exceeds one or when thenumber of interactions exceeds two, and it may be further based on thetime of each interaction. The identification of the mobile communicationfacility 102 may be, in part, based on an associated phone number thatis also associated with a user. A mobile communication facility 102 maybe a cell phone, satellite phone, PDA, combination PDA/cell phone, webdevice, and/or web appliance.

In embodiments, a method of determining mobile communication facility102 compatible content may include tracking a plurality of mobilecommunication facility 102 interactions with network content.Information may be stored pertaining to the web interactions in adatabase, where a portion of the information comprises identification ofat least one mobile communication facility 102 from the plurality ofmobile communication facilities and predicts the compatibility of themobile communication facility 102 with the network content based, inpart, on how many content interactions there were. The prediction ofcompatibility of the mobile communication facility 102 with contentrelated to the web interaction may be based, in part, on how manyinteractions there were in the user's past. Content may be a download,program, file, executable file, zipped file, compressed file, audio, andvideo. A web interaction may be a click on a hyperlink, an indication todownload content, and/or an indication to download a program. Predictionincludes a prediction of compatibility when the number of interactionsexceeds one or when the number of interactions exceeds two, and it maybe further based on the time of each interaction. The identification ofthe mobile communication facility 102 may be, in part, based on anassociated phone number, that is also associated with a user. A mobilecommunication facility 102 may be a cell phone, satellite phone, PDA,combination PDA/cell phone, web device, and/or web appliance.

In embodiments, a method of determining mobile communication facility102 compatible content may include identifying a mobile communicationfacility 102 by its association with a phone number, identifying a firstnetwork content interaction of the mobile device, and identifying asecond network content interaction of the mobile device, wherein thesecond interaction is associated with the first interaction. Theprediction of compatibility of the first network content with the mobilecommunication facility 102 may be based, in part, on the existence ofthe second interaction. The first interaction may be downloading contentfrom a website, interacting with a website, downloading a program,viewing video (streaming video or downloading a video file), orlistening to audio (streaming audio or downloaded audio files or music).

In embodiments, a method of providing a mobile communication facility102 compatible content may include collecting click histories from aplurality of mobile content users, analyzing the click histories forrepeat user visits, analyzing the repeat user visits for type of mobilecommunication facility 102 used, and generating a list of repeat uservisited sites on corresponding mobile communication facilities to createa compatibility list. The type of mobile communication facility 102 maybe identified, in part, from an associated phone number. The clickhistories may be collected by the wireless provider 108, processed as abatch, processed in real-time, or processed in quasi-time. This methodmay be used to develop a user specific content compatibility list whichmay be stored on the user's mobile communication facility 102 or storedon a server.

In embodiments, a method for providing only device compatible searchresults to a mobile communication facility 102 may include derivingcompatibility from web interactions of similar mobile communicationfacilities.

In embodiments, a method for providing verified device search resultscompatible with a mobile communication facility 102 may include verifieddevice compatible results that are highlighted on a user interface ofthe mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, a method for locating a mobile communication facility102 may include providing a personal search filter, searching forinformation on a network using the mobile communication facility 102, orproviding results based, in part, on the mobile communication facility102 location and the personal search filter. The personal search filtermay reside within the mobile communication facility 102, on a server, oron a network (e.g., the Internet). A personal search filter may be acollaborative filter and may also include at least two sub filters, suchas filters related to personal information, business information,selectable filters, or filters based, in part, on the time of day ortime of year. Personal filters may be configurable to include a localservices search engine, a local product search engine, a business searchengine, personal search engine, travel search engine, financial searchengine, news search engine, video search engine, music search engine,and/or restaurant search engine. The mobile communication facility 102may be a cell phone, satellite phone, PDA, combination PDA/cell phone,web device, and web appliance. The mobile communication facility 102 mayinclude an SMS search interface, a voice recognition search interface,or wireless applications protocol. The search may be performed, in part,through a carrier website or through a carrier partner's website.

In embodiments, a method may be used for searching for network contentusing a mobile communication facility 102, where the mobilecommunication facility 102 connects to a network through a wirelesscommunications service provider and is provided search results. Aportion of the search results may be from an open network search andanother portion of the search results may be based on content controlledby the wireless communications service provider. Search results may beprovided in a predetermined order, where the predetermined order placesthe search results based on content controlled by the wirelesscommunications service provider first. The method may also includehighlighting the search results based on content controlled by thewireless provider 108, where the highlighted results are provided first.The content controlled by the wireless communications service providermay include ringtones, video, music video, music, music formatted fordownload, and video games. The content may be transcoded for wirelesscommunication facilities in general or for specific wirelesscommunication facilities. Transcoded content may be highlighted on auser interface of the wireless communication facility 104. The methodmay also include highlighting the open network search results andhighlighting sponsor links, where the sponsored links are paid inclusionlinks (e.g., resulting from a competitive bid auction process). A mobilecommunication facility 102 may be a cell phone, satellite phone, PDA,combination PDA/cell phone, web device, and/or web appliance.

In embodiments, a method may be used for providing walled garden searchresults and open network search results to a mobile communicationfacility 102 as a result of a search performed on the mobilecommunication facility 102. The walled garden search results may behighlighted and listed prior to other content. The walled garden searchresults may include provider content that is not included within aninitial amount of content provided from the open network search results,where the provider content includes music, games, video, ringtones,downloads, or other content adapted for purchase.

In embodiments, a method of optimizing search results for mobile usersmay include tracking the on-line interactions of a mobile communicationfacility 102, where the tracking involves, in part, identifying anidentification number associated with the mobile communication facility102, generating a filter based, in part, on the tracked on-lineinteractions, and applying the filter to a search performed on themobile communication facility 102. The identification number may includea phone number. The tracked on-line information may include trackingclicks, clickthroughs, queries, clicks following queries, WAP sitesvisited, WAP portals visited, information reviewed from a DEC directory(e.g., a carrier's catalog), information reviewed from a billing historyassociated with a user, information about payment methods, purchases,payment timing, timing of online interactions and/or the location, andspeed and direction of the mobile communication facility 102 at the timeof the online interaction.

Filters may include a collaborative filter, personal filter, a filtergenerated through a click analysis, a filter based, in part, on carrierinformation associated with a mobile communication facility 102, afilter based on payment method for a carrier service (e.g., pre-paymentor post-payment), a filter based on the type of mobile communicationfacility 102 used (cell phone, PDA, etc.), and/or a filter based ondemographics. Filters may also be generated, in part, based uponinformation specific to a user's mobile communication facility 102, forexample whether it has address book information, SMS logs, email logs,or IM logs. The descriptive information stored regarding the mobilecommunication facility 102 may include the cost of the facility andinformation about whether it has a music player as a primary function, avideo player as a primary function, an instant messenger or chatfacility as a primary function, and whether it is a type that ismarketed to a particular customer demographic (e.g., children, youngadults, adults).

In embodiments, the mobile communication facility 102 may be able toupdate an address book. For example users may add white pages andbusiness listings to their address book. Businesses may be charged anadditional fee for the permanent adding of a listing to a local addressbook.

The interactions of the mobile communication facility 102 may be trackedand stored on a server, where the stored information is transferablebetween carriers. Similarly, filters may be stored on a server in amanner that permits their transfer between carriers and/or betweenmobile communication facilities.

In embodiments, the presence of an application on a mobile communicationfacility 102 may be enhanced by working with the wireless provider 108.

In embodiments, mobile wallet/billing-on-behalf-of may be enabled toallow users to make purchases at paid search and shopping comparisonvendors.

In embodiments, data feed files may be pushed by the wireless provider108 to a provided FTP location. This may trigger the feed processing.Data feed files may be pulled from a wireless provider 108-supplied FTPlocation. This may be done on a predefined schedule.

In embodiments, deck content may be used for indexing via spidering.Spidering is the process of traversing web pages, WAP pages, or otheronline content in an automated fashion and extracting relevant content.A spider may start at one or more root nodes and traverse the links fromthose pages following a set of rules. Spidering may occur on apredefined schedule and may be invoked manually when requested by thewireless provider 108. The wireless provider 108 may also request amanual spidering run if an immediate update is necessary, or if specificlinks or locations are identified for additional searching. A spider maytraverse a WAP deck and retrieve the necessary metadata from which asearch index is built. If the WAP page for a content item enumeratescomprehensive mobile communication facility 102 compatibilityinformation, the information may be retrieved and indexed. If the WAPpages are restricted to only handsets which are compatible, the spidermay emulate each known mobile communication facility 102 type to derivecompatibility information.

For a WAP deck search, the wireless provider 108 may provide one or moreentry points to the spider. This may be a list of one or more URLsrepresenting content roots. The wireless provider 108 may provide thenecessary access privileges to the WAP pages. This may entail providinginformation about private headers (e.g., X-Request) that may be suppliedwith the HTTP requests for authentication purposes or configuring themobile application gateway such that a spider may pass through.

In embodiments, data received from the wireless provider 108 via a datafeed or spidering may be maintained on equipment which is not accessibleto unauthorized personnel. Thus, this data may not be directlyaccessible to end users. Metadata may be extracted, and indexesprepared, from this data, which may in turn be deployed in a productionenvironment for use with services.

In embodiments, quality assurance of the platform may be attainedthrough unit tests, integration tests, automated regression tests forresolved issues, and/or manual testing of mobile communicationfacilities 102. Testing of the platform servers may be accomplishedthough automated testing or manual testing. Continuous testing may beused during the development stage of a project. Release qualificationtesting may be used when a release has entered code-freeze. A process ofcontinuous testing may ensure that behavioral changes are intentionaland that quality does not degrade over time. This may be accomplishedthrough a combination of development policies and automated testing.Each class in the server may have unit test coverage written andmaintained by developers. A specific unit test may not need to bewritten for each and every method since some are too small to require itand some may be difficult to test in isolation. Some or all of theindividual components may be tested in isolation. Unit tests may includeseveral groups, such as, smoke tests (a limited set of tests intended totest the most important features and run in a small amount of time),exhaustive tests (a larger set of tests intended to test all areas ofthe product fully), and performance tests (a set of tests that takelonger to run due to the nature of the tests being performed).

In embodiments, to assist identification of quality issues a continuousbuild process may be used. Before each submission of code change tosource control, developers may run the set of smoke tests and fix anyunit tests that have been broken (if those changes are expected anddesired). An automated build machine process may watch for changes inthe source control system and initiate a smoke test build anytime itnotices changes that have not been tested. This process may act as aconsistency check for the checked-in source code. Failures in this buildmay be considered emergencies and may be fixed immediately by thedeveloper who introduced the failure. Another automated build processmay build the server and run the exhaustive and regression unit testsuites on scheduled intervals. Failures in this automated build are maybe sent to the developers who have made changes since the previous runso that issues are known about as quickly as possible. Additionalautomated builds include: code coverage (compute and calculate codedcoverage metrics), code analysis (check for questionable code constructsand style), and performance unit test suite (run the long runningperformance unit tests).

In embodiments, the platform 100 may render to all versions of WAP (andCHTML or iMODE) through the use of the WALL/WURFL toolkit which detectsthe phone version from the user and then renders appropriately. The WAPsite may take advantage of capabilities of newer WAP versions andtherefore render differently on different WAP versions. Testing may beused to verify that the WAP appears and functions appropriately ondifferent phone versions. Minimal acceptance testing may be used onpreviously untested phones to evaluate the phone and to locate bugs.Minimal acceptance testing may also be used on phones that havepreviously passed full acceptance testing after small WAP site changes.Full acceptance testing may be run on mobile communication facilities102 that have not previously passed full acceptance testing or aftermajor WAP changes. Testing may include, but is not limited to, thefollowing steps: verify basic page layout, verify that the numbering iscorrect, that the table or list is laid out properly, and that the linktraversal is correct, check that the content item names are indentedcorrectly, verify that the Artist Name is in the correct location,verify that search term matches are highlighted, check that the colorsof links are correct, follow every link and validate that page (FullTest Only), and verify the numeric access keys work. The testingprotocols may include the use of emulators, profilers, debuggers, and/ornetwork monitors.

In embodiments, search metric and business reporting may include reportinterpretation and product recommendations based on search data patternsand behavior. Custom reports and alternative delivery options may alsobe available. A search summary report may provide roll up data to viewthe search usage across all platforms (e.g., mobile web search, gatewayerror traffic and paid search). The report may include total volume, dayand time of day reporting, and usage of each search system. A searchvolume report may indicate intraday and intraweek search volume tomonitor mobile search usage. A search query stream report may detaileach query and the number of times the query is sent to the searchengine during the period. This report may be used for understanding theoverall search behavior of the user population. An emerging queriesreport may indicate queries that are rapidly accelerating ordecelerating in volume. This report may be used for merchandisingpurposes and for identifying the content, products, or services tosource and promote to the user base.

In embodiments, a WAP usage report may detail the WAP search site usagepatterns available in aggregate, by phone model, and by content provider(when more than one content provider is indexed.) A WAP usage report maycontain the following data elements: # of Searches, # of times thesearch engine has at least one result, average # of results for eachsearch, # of times each content category responds to a search, # ofclicks per search result page, # of pages viewed per search, # of uniqueusers, # of sessions, session length in time, session length in pageviews, total # of page views, and/or the conversion rate from search tocontent purchase.

In embodiments, application usage reports may detail the applicationusage in the aggregate and by phone model and by content provider (whenmore than one content provider is indexed. The report may contain thefollowing data elements: # of searches, # of times the search engine hasat least one result, average # of results for each search, # of timeseach content category responds to a search, # of clicks per searchresult page, # of pages viewed per search, # of unique users, # ofsessions, session length in time, session length in page views, total #of page views, and/or the conversion rate from search to contentpurchase.

In embodiments, a paid search performance report may provide theperformance of the paid search engine directly in response to requestfrom the system. Reports may be segmented between WAP and applicationusage and include: # of requests to paid search database, # matches,match rate—% of time a paid listing is available, fill rate—% of paidlistings requested that are filled by the paid search engine,click-through rate, average cost-per-click, clicks per advertiser, grossrevenue per advertiser, total gross revenue, total net revenue

In embodiments, application adoption reports may detail the adoption ofthe downloadable application during the period, including # ofpromotional impressions served, # of clicks to learn more, # ofdownloads, and the # of active applications.

In embodiments, service metrics reports may detail and summarize dataregarding the operation of servers, including, average requests persecond, peak requests per second, requests/second distribution, maximumrequest size, and/or the average response time.

In embodiments, for each report type the wireless provider 108 mayrequest different levels of specificity for different purposes, forexample, executive summaries that present a small amount of data in anaggregated way intended to give a high-level overview; a detailedsummary that presents a larger set of data aggregated to provide moredetailed information. This type of report may be used in circumstanceswhere the wireless provider 108 wants analysis of the raw data andprovided with digested information; and/or transaction logs that presentraw data collected. This type of report may be used when the wirelessprovider 108 would like to do its own analysis.

In embodiments, reports may be formatted using raw line-based log file(mostly used for transaction logs), XML, HTML (formatted by applying XSLto the XML), and/or plain text (formatted by applying XSL to the XML).

In embodiments, reports may be delivered using email, where the wirelessprovider 108 provides an email address. The subject of the message mayinclude the name of the report and a timestamp. Reports may also bedelivered by FTP, where the wireless provider 108 provides a host name,user name, password, and directory name. Reports are then delivered asfile drops into the given directory. The filenames include the name ofthe report, a timestamp and sequence number.

In embodiments, the deployment architecture may consist ofdynamically-scalable hardware and software to handle incoming requests.One element of the architecture may be a cluster. A cluster may comprisethree machines, one front-end web server and two back-end service tierservers. The web server may run Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Apache HTTPServer. The service tier servers may run Red Hat Enterprise Linux,Apache HTTP Server, Apache Tomcat, and MySQL. A minimum of two clustersmay be used for load balancing, fail over, and redundancy. Additionalclusters may be deployed as is necessary to handle additional serverload. The cluster may receive requests from the mobile communicationfacility 102 via HTTP and reply with results which are retrieved fromcache or by querying various databases. The cluster may also be used tohandle download requests for mobile communication facility 102applications. Each cluster may handle 5 QPS or 450,000 requests per day.An incoming request may be distributed to one of the front-end webservers via load balancing hardware and then the connection between thefront-end web server and a back-end service tier server may bedistributed via load balancing hardware. The connections from the mobilecommunication facility 102 to the servers may be stateless. Eachconnection may be distributed appropriately. Feed servers may be used toprocess data feeds from the wireless provider 108, the server web logs,and the server tomcat logs. These feed servers may run Red HatEnterprise Linux. Output from the feed servers may be stored in a datawarehouse which is used for data analysis, reporting, and generation ofthe input tables for the MySQL databases which reside on the servicetier servers. The data warehouse may run Red Hat Enterprise Linux andOracle Database 10g.

The data center architecture may employ an administration server whichensures that the other servers are configured properly, moves log filesto the feed servers, and monitors the health of the servers. The serversmay utilize fibre channel RAID SAN or other redundant mass storagetechniques for reliability, scalability, and performance. The drives maybe backed up to tape utilizing industry standard backup proceduresincluding offsite storage and rotation. Similar hardware and softwaremay be used for development and QA environments. The developmentenvironment and the QA environment may each utilize their own clusterset.

In embodiments, the release of upgrades may be performed using a rollingupgrade where it is not required that the same version be availablesimultaneously. A service tier server may be removed from service in theload balancers while it is upgraded and verified. It may then berestored to service and the next service tier server is upgraded.Upgrades may also be performed by a maintenance upgrade where it isrequired that the same version be deployed and available simultaneously.A maintenance page may be deployed and all of the clusters removed fromservice in the load balancers while they are upgraded and verified. Theclusters may then be restored to service in the load balancers. Theupgrades may be scheduled during hours of minimal usage.

In embodiments, the web servers may be protected by a managed firewalldeployed at the public internet. The firewall may contain ACLs whichcontrol the types of networks and traffic that can communicate with theweb servers. The servers may be managed by the data center and loadedwith a hardened version of the O/S and anti-virus software. The O/S maybe kept up to date using automated patch management software. Outsideaccess may be restricted to secure channels via VPN, SSH, or a privatebackend network. Access by data center personnel for administrativepurposes may be authenticated and logged.

In embodiments, the platform may be integrated with the wirelessprovider's 108 existing deck using a variety of integration techniquesthat apply for the WAP version or the downloadable application. Theresults and item detail pages may be available as full WAP (1.2, 2.0)pages served directly from servers (the “hosted” option) or as XML datasuitable for formatting and rendering within the wireless provider 108'sdeck (the “API” option). The wireless provider 108 may be responsiblefor selecting the appropriate DNS name for the service (e.g.,search.carrier.com) and for configuring its DNS records to point to theappropriate servers. The wireless provider 108 may be responsible forselecting the appropriate customization and/or skinning options. If thewireless provider 108 wishes its users to take advantage of advancedsearch features (such as the recommendation engine), the wirelessprovider 108 may be responsible for configuring its mobile applicationgateway such that an agreed-upon unique ID is transmitted to theappropriate servers. The end user's mobile browser and the capabilitiesof the mobile communication facility 102 may be identified and the pagesserved directly to the end user's mobile browser.

In embodiments, the J2ME application may support a variety ofover-the-air (OTA) field upgrade methods.

In embodiments, the J2ME application may periodically check for updatesand notify the user that an update is available. The user may choose toupdate the application immediately, in which case the applicationinitiates downloading and installing an update. The user may choose toupdate the application by visiting the application download WAP site andinitiating an update. Or, the user may choose to request a WAP push ofan update.

In embodiments, the application may use an SMS connection to receiveupdate notifications via SMS, which causes the mobile applicationfacility 102 AMS to run the application, which then may offer updateoptions to the user.

In embodiments, a WAP push may be used to install or update theapplication.

In embodiments, BREW versions of the client may not use all themechanisms used by J2ME versions for updating. In BREW environments,applications may poll to find updates, and application-directed SMS maybe used to wake up applications to notify the user of updates. Users maydownload updates from a BREW provider.

In embodiments, a search facility 142 may process both structured andunstructured data. The primary categories that must be completed whendefining a feed file include: primary feed file attributes, file namedescription, header row column descriptions, trailer row columndescriptions, detail row column descriptions, non conventional file namedescription (if applicable), and feed production schedule.

In embodiments, a data source may uniquely define a wireless provider108, and the feed files for a given wireless provider 108 may bereferenced under the given wireless provider's 108 data source. The feedtype may define the specific type or category of data that will becontained within the feed file. Some primary feed types may include thefollowing: log (feed files that contain logged data), personal (feedfiles that contain provider 108 specific member profile data), and deck(feed files that contain content data). There may be many derivations ofdeck data, including, but not limited to, DeckArtist, DeckHandset,DeckCategory, and DeckLanguage. The feed protocol may specify whether afeed is either a request feed or a response feed. The protocol maydefine the intent of the sending wireless provider 108. The sendingwireless provider 108 may request that the given feed be processed bythe receiving provider 108. The sending provider 108 may send a feed inresponse to a previous feed received from the receiving provider 108 inorder to complete a feed contract. A feed ID may be used to define afour part feed name which uniquely defines a given type of feed for agiven provider 108. The four part feed naming convention may specify thesending partner ID, the receiving partner ID, the feed type, and thefeed protocol (e.g., “Acme_Provider_Log_Request”). The feed may beinbound or outbound. Defining the feed direction may help to determinebehavior in how the feed engine treats a given feed, such as the type offeed file directories that are created for a given feed.

In embodiments, the document type may specify the physical structure ofa feed file. A feed file's physical structure may be defined by thefixed column format, the delimited column format, and/or the XML Format.The columns defined for a given row type may have a fixed length. Therows of a given type may have a fixed length. For example, a feed filemay consist of the following cardinality of row types: 0 or 1 Headerrow, 0 to many Detail rows, and 0 to 1 Trailer row. Each row type mayhave a different fixed length. Columns defined for the rows in a givenfeed may be separated by a one character delimiter (e.g., a bar ‘|’).Each row in the feed may represent a type of XML element. A header rowor a detail row may be defined by one element. Detail rows may have manydifferent types of row elements. A detail with more than one type of rowelement may be defined as variant rows within a feed document. Detailrows may make up all of the rows between the header row and trailer rowwithin a feed file. A feed file may be defined as having either one nonvariant row type or as two or more variant row types. When all of thedetail rows within a feed file have the exact same column structure, thedetail rows are said to be non variant. When some of the detail rowswithin a feed file have a different column structure than other detailrows within the same feed file, the detail rows are said to be variant.The sequence number may be used to uniquely define the feed file namefor a given provider 108. It may also define the behavior of how a feedfile is treated. The sequence number may be defined as incremental,progressive, or TimeStamp. If the sequence number is defined asincremental, each feed may follow in sequence from one feed to the next(the increment is one (1)). This type of sequence number may be usedwhen it is important to track or receive a feed in an exact sequence. Ifthe sequence number is defined as progressive, each feed may have asequence number greater than the one before it. If the sequence numberis defined as TimeStamp, each feed may be given a time stamp as itssequence number. The sequence number may have the full time stamp formatof yyyyMMddHHmmss. The line delimiter may define the type of characteror characters that are used to mark the end of a line. If the documenttype of a feed file is defined as delimited, then a character delimitermay be defined as the token which separates each column within each andevery row within a given feed file. The column delimiter may be a bar‘|’.

In embodiments, the deck platform may serve as a central place forhandling the mobile search service provided by the wireless provider108. The system may interact with portal management systems, chargingsystem, other delivery systems, and all other wireless providers 108(internal or 3rd party) systems needed to provide end to end mobilesearch service. As part of the overall search system, the deck may alsoprovide management of the marketers relational aspects (bidding arena,report access), and may provide a unified interface for managing media &bearer agnostic search service (e.g., 3G, 2.5G, MMS, SMS, Downloadablecontent, streaming content).

In embodiments, the platform provides an alert and/or messaging systemfor the wireless provider 108 to handle events that the provider 108 mayencounter during the operation of the deck system. A severity level foreach message may be presented, ranging form indeterminate severity to a“warning” severity level that is likely to affect the service. A faultmanager may be used to define a common structure that describes possiblesolution element's events and alarms. This structure may be generic andis intended to support all types of events. Additionally, performancecounters may record performance/security issues.

In embodiments, the deck may utilize SNMP protocol as the means totransfer alarms and status events to the wireless provider 108 alarm andmonitor system. The wireless provider 108 may specify which networkmonitoring solution is being used, the access details needed toestablish such a connection (SNMP server address and port) and open atunnel through its firewall systems so SNMP traps may arrive. The deckmay use a standard MIB structure to relay alarms, and may adjust to anyspecific MIB structure. A web tool may be hosted on a secure serverwhich provides the wireless provider 108 with access to the contents ofevent and alert messages.

An aspect of the present invention relates to providing useful responsesto information entered into an address bar 174 of a mobile communicationfacility when the information does not properly correspond with anexisting URL or other website reference. In embodiments, a user of amobile communication facility may enter information into an address bar174 on the mobile communication facility and the information may be amisspelled URL, an unknown URL, or the like. In other situations, theuser may have been entering search terms rather than a URL thinking theaddress bar 174 was the search query entry facility. There are manyreasons that mis-information may be entered into an address bar 174 on amobile communication facility and embodiments of the present inventionserve to provide a user with useful information even after entering suchmisinformation.

In embodiments, misinformation entered into the address bar of a mobilecommunication facility may be a wrong URL, a mis-typed URL, may notcorrespond with a presently active webpage, may be a broken link,missing page, or other information that cannot be matched with awebsite, URL, or other site indication.

FIG. 12 illustrates a prediction process associated with misinformationentered into an address bar 174 of a mobile communication facility 102.In this prediction process, a user may enter text into an address bar174 of a mobile communication facility 1202. After entering the text,the user may initiate a search for the URL associated with the text1204. Following the search request, the mobile communication facilitymay produce the related site 1214 or an error may be produced 1212 ifthe URL is not found or is otherwise unavailable. When the error isreturned, a facility designed for the prediction of the desired site maybe employed. The site prediction facility may reside in the mobilecommunication facility, in the wireless provider, or in another relatedfacility, for example.

The prediction associated with step 1218 may be based on adisambiguation facility (e.g. as described herein in connection withFIG. 1), a correction facility (e.g. as described herein in connectionwith FIG. 1), or other facility designed to predict what site the userintended to visit. For example, the text entered into the address bar174 may have been correctly associated with a URL except for the factthat the “.com” was not included, it was mistyped, misspelled, or thetrue extension was “.net” or it otherwise included erroneous extensioninformation. A prediction facility associated with step 1218 may gothrough a process of including or replacing extensions to findassociated web sites. As another example of misinformation included inthe address bar 174, the text may have included mistyping and the likeassociated with the prefix (e.g. typing “wwe.” instead of “www.” orentering a comma instead of a period before the URL). A predictionfacility associated with step 1218 may go through a process of includingor replacing the prefix information to find associated websites. As yetanother example of misinformation included in the address bar 174, theuser may have misspelled the URL, entered an abbreviated URL, enteredsearch terms instead of a URL or the like. A prediction facilityassociated with step 1218 may go through a process of spell checking andcorrecting the text with what is perceived as the intended target site.In the course of predicting and correcting the text to associate themis-directed text entry, the prediction facility may use othertechniques for aiding the user (e.g. those described in connection withcorrecting, disambiguating, and otherwise aiding the user in bettertargeting search query, as described herein (e.g. as described herein inconnection with FIG. 1)).

Once a site is predicted through step 1218, the predicted site may beentered 1220 and presented on the mobile communication facility 102. Theprocess of predicting the desired site 1218 may also involve predictingand then searching for the predicted site 1224. If the predicted sitedoes not exist or respond, a prediction facility associated with theprediction step 1218 may refine the prediction and search again. Thisprocess may be undertaken several times until a predicted site islocated or until the process times out due to some preset timeoutperiod, for example.

In embodiments, a process for predicting the desired site frommisinformation entered into an address bar 174 of a mobile communicationfacility may involve the steps of predicting the desired site 1218 afterreceiving an indication 1212 that no site exists or responds to themisinformation. The prediction 1218 may involve correction,disambiguation or other such techniques as described herein. Forexample, the prediction may involve using information related to themobile communication facility (e.g. mobile subscriber characteristicinformation) to assist the disambiguation or correction of themisinformation. Once a prediction is made, the prediction may be tested1224 (e.g. a search for a related URL may be conducted), the predictionmay be presented to the user as a suggestion 1222, or the siteassociated with the prediction may be entered and presented 1220, forexample.

FIG. 13 illustrates a search process based on misinformation 1300entered into an address bar 174 associated with a mobile communicationfacility 102. In this search process, a user may enter text into anaddress bar 174 of a mobile communication facility 1202. After enteringthe text, the user may initiate a search for the URL associated with thetext 1204. Following the search request, the mobile communicationfacility may produce the related site 1214 or an error may be produced1212 if the URL is not found or is otherwise unavailable. When the erroris returned, a facility designed for the searching for the desired siteor other information relating to the entered text may be employed. Thesite search facility may reside in the mobile communication facility, inthe wireless provider, or in another related facility, for example.

Once an error 1212, or other indication the desired site is unavailable,is produced, the text entered into the address bar 174 may be used as asearch query 1302 (e.g. in a similar fashion as if the text were enteredinto a search query facility as described in connection with FIG. 1).For example, the text may be disambiguated if it is ambiguous; it may becorrected (e.g. the spelling may be checked and corrected); orsuggestions related to the query, disambiguated query, or correctedquery may be produced for the user. Once the search query, correctedsearch query or disambiguated search query is determined, it may then beused to perform a search for results 1304. The search may produceresults and or produce suggestions or other related information 1308.For example, as disclosed in connection with other embodiments herein(e.g. in connection with FIG. 1), the search results or suggestions maybe produced in coordination with information relating to the mobilecommunication facility 102 (e.g. mobile subscriber characteristicinformation). In embodiments, an algorithm facility 144 (e.g. asillustrated in connection with FIG. 1) may be used in connection withinformation relating to the mobile communication facility to betterpredict what the user is looking for.

In embodiments, a process for searching for information relating tomisinformation entered into an address bar 174 of a mobile communicationfacility may involve the steps of producing a search query from the textentered in the address bar 174 1302 after receiving an indication 1212that no site exists or responds to the misinformation. The search query1302 may involve correction, disambiguation or other such techniques asdescribed herein. For example, the development of the search query mayinvolve using information related to the mobile communication facility(e.g. mobile subscriber characteristic information) to assist thedisambiguation or correction of the misinformation. Once a search queryis made, search results and or suggestions and or recommendations orother information relating to the text entered in the address bar 174may be presented to the user on the mobile communication facility.

FIG. 14 illustrates a processed search query process based onmisinformation 1400 entered into an address bar 174 associated with amobile communication facility 102. In this search process, a user mayenter text into an address bar 174 of a mobile communication facility1202. After entering the text, the user may initiate a search for theURL associated with the text 1204. Following the search request, themobile communication facility may produce the related site 1214 or anerror may be produced 1212 if the URL is not found or is otherwiseunavailable. When the error is returned, a facility designed for thesearching for the desired site or other information relating to theentered text may be employed. The site search facility may reside in themobile communication facility, in the wireless provider, or in anotherrelated facility, for example.

The text entered from the address bar 174 may be processed 1402 througha disambiguation facility, correction facility, or other facilityadapted to modify the text into a form more appropriate for a search onthe mobile communication facility. The processed query may then be usedas a search query 1404 and a search may be performed. Results,suggestions, and or other information pertaining to the processed querymay be produced and displayed on a display associated with the mobilecommunication facility 102.

FIG. 15 illustrates a redirection process based on misinformation 1400entered into an address bar 174 associated with a mobile communicationfacility 102. In this redirection process, a user may enter text into anaddress bar 174 of a mobile communication facility 1202. After enteringthe text, the user may initiate a search for the URL associated with thetext 1204. Following the search request, the mobile communicationfacility may produce the related site 1214 or an error may be produced1212 if the URL is not found or is otherwise unavailable. When the erroris returned, a facility designed for the searching for the desired siteor other information relating to the entered text may be employed. Thesite search facility may reside in the mobile communication facility, inthe wireless provider, or in another related facility, for example.

Following the error, or other indication that the site is unavailable,1212, a redirected site may be chosen 1502. The redirection 1502 may bebased on a table, algorithm, or information relating to the originallyunavailable site indicating the correct site. For example, theunavailable site may produce information indicating there is a relatedsite. A referenced URL may be provided for example. Given thisredirection information, the mobile communication facility may beredirected to the new site.

In embodiments, information relating to the mobile communicationfacility may be used to redirect the user to a redirected site. Forexample, a user may misspell a URL and information relating to themobile communication facility may indicate what the user intended toenter. For example, mobile characteristic information may containinformation showing that the user has recently viewed a site with a verysimilar URL to the mistyped URL entered and the previously visited sitemay be presented to the user. In embodiments, an indication that the URLas entered was unavailable may also be presented to the user indicatinga process of suggesting alternatives was used.

In embodiments, the redirection, search, text processing, resultspresentation, suggestions or other methods of managing informationentered into the address bar of a mobile communication facility may beaided through an algorithm facility 144. The algorithm facility 144 mayuse information relating to the mobile communication facility 102 in theprocess of determining what information the user is most interested in.The algorithm facility may be a collaborative filter or personal, forexample, and the filter may use information from the mobilecharacteristics database in the process of delivering user targetedresults.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to processing errorsrelated to search queries and address queries entered on a mobilecommunication facility. In embodiments, the error processing may beaccomplished through software on the mobile communication facility. Inembodiments, the error processing may be accomplished through softwareremote from the mobile communication facility (e.g. on a serverassociated with a wireless provider 108 or associated with the wirelesscommunication facility 104). In embodiments, the error processing may bedone using software processing in part on the mobile communicationfacility and in part on a platform remote from the mobile communicationfacility.

FIG. 16 illustrates an error processing method 1600 wherein the errorprocessing is performed, at least in part, on the mobile communicationfacility 102. In this embodiment, the mobile communication facility maybe used to communicate an address search request (e.g. associated withan address entered into an address search bar on the mobilecommunication facility) to a server facility 1602. The server may be aserver associated with a wireless provider for example. In the eventthere is no such address or URL located, or the located address isinactive or otherwise produces an error, an error 1604 may be producedin the mobile communication facility indicating such. This error may bea similar error to that described in connection with FIGS. 12-15 aserror 1212.

Once an error 1604 or the like is produced, the software platform on themobile communication facility 102 may respond to the error in a varietyof ways (e.g. the error processing associated with FIGS. 12-15). Forexample, as indicated in connection with FIGS. 12-15, the software onthe mobile communication facility 102 may predict a desired site 1218,use the text as a search query 1302, further process the text entered1402, redirect the mobile communication facility to another website 1502or otherwise perform a process in response to the error 1604. Followingthe error processing, the mobile communication facility may generate andcommunicate an additional request for information 1608. This may besimilar to the requests for information described in connection withFIGS. 12-15. For example, a request to enter a newly predicted website(e.g. as described in connection with FIG. 12) may be made. Followingthe request to enter the newly predicted website, an error or the likemay be produced and the process may be re-executed 1224. Ultimately, themobile communication facility 102 may receive an indication of thepredicted site or the predicted site may be presented. As anotherexample, the new request 1608 may be formed as a search query, or aprocessed query (e.g. disambiguated) intended to be fed into a searchengine, as described in connection with FIGS. 13-14. As yet anotherexample, the new request 1608 may be a redirected request as describedin connection with FIG. 15. It should be noted that a user may intend toplace a search query into the location box intentionally.

FIG. 17 illustrates an error processing process 1700 wherein the errorprocessing is performed, at least in part, remote from the mobilecommunication facility 102. In this embodiment, the mobile communicationfacility may be used to communicate an address search request 1704 (e.g.Associated with an address entered into an address search bar on themobile communication facility) to a server facility associated with awireless provider 108. The server may be a server under the control ofthe wireless provider or it may be otherwise associated, for example. Inthe event there is no such address or URL located, or the locatedaddress is inactive or otherwise produces an error, an error 1706 may beproduced at the server associated with the wireless provider 108indicating such. This error may be a similar error to that described inconnection with FIGS. 12-15 as error 1212.

Once an error 1706 or the like is produced, the software platform on theserver associated with the wireless provider 108 may respond to theerror in a variety of ways (e.g. the error processing associated withFIGS. 12-15). For example, as indicated in connection with FIGS. 12-15,the software on the server may predict a desired site 1218, use the textas a search query 1302, further process the text entered 1402, redirectthe mobile communication facility to another website 1502 or otherwiseperform a process in response to the error 1706. Following the errorprocessing, the server may generate and communicate an additionalrequest for information 1708. This may be similar to the requests forinformation described in connection with FIGS. 12-15. For example, arequest to enter a newly predicted website (e.g. as described inconnection with FIG. 12) may be made. Following the request to enter thenewly predicted website, an error or the like may be produced and theprocess may be re-executed 1224. Ultimately, the mobile communicationfacility 102 may receive an indication of the predicted site or thepredicted site may be presented. As another example, the new request1708 may be formed as a search query, or a processed query (e.g.disambiguated) intended to be fed into a search engine, as described inconnection with FIGS. 13-14. As yet another example, the new request1608 may be a redirected request as described in connection with FIG.15.

An aspect of the present invention relates to providing sponsored links.In embodiments a sponsor may be provided with an interface to allow itto enter sponsor information, such as bidding information, content to bepresented in the event a bid is won, contact information, devicecompatible information, profiles the sponsor is targeting, locations thesponsor is targeting and the like. For example, a sponsorship facility162 (e.g. as described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2) may be adaptedwith a sponsorship entry facility. The sponsorship facility 162 mayperform other functions in connection with providing sponsored links ona mobile communication facility as well. For example, the sponsorshipfacility 162 may facilitate a bidding process and/or present thesponsored content to the mobile communication facility. In embodiments,information relating to the mobile communication facility (e.g. mobilesubscriber characteristic information) may be used in the sponsored linkprocess.

FIG. 18 illustrates a sponsored content facility 1800 wherein a mobilecommunication facility 102 is in communication with a wireless provider108. The sponsorship facility 162, which may be part of a mobile searchhost facility 114, includes a sponsor entry facility 1804 where asponsor may begin the process of entering information relating tosponsored content, bids, search criteria and the like. The sponsorshipfacility 162 may include a bidding facility 1812 to handle a biddingprocess between several sponsors; a payment system 1810 to handlepayment transactions associated with the sponsored content; and asponsored link/content facility 1808 adapted to direct and/or providethe sponsored content. A sponsor may be associated with a server 134application that is adapted to access sponsored content database 128 anda sponsor's payment facility 1802.

In embodiments, the sponsor may enter a bidding process to providecertain sponsored content to a mobile communication facility 102 througha sponsor entry facility 1804. The sponsor may provide bid information(such as max bids for certain keyword matches), content information,compatibility information and the like. Once the sponsor has entered thesponsor process through the sponsor entry facility 1804, it may be in aposition to display the sponsored content on a mobile communicationfacility in exchange for a bid amount. A user may enter a search queryon the mobile communication facility 102, the query may be transmittedto a bidding facility 1812 where a bidding process may take place todetermine which sponsor's content is going to be provided to the mobilecommunication facility 102. The bidding process may result in the awardof certain sponsored content 128 as identified in the awardeesinformation it originally indicated during the entry process. Forexample, the sponsor may have indicated that upon an award, a link orother content 1808 should be presented to the mobile communicationfacility.

A sponsor may present the mobile communication facility 102 withpurchasable content and a user may purchase the content through themobile communication facility 102 and make payment for the contentthrough the wireless provider 108. For example, the content may be adownloadable ringtone, music file, video file, wall paper, or the like.The sponsor may elect to provide billing for such content through thewireless provider billing facility 1810. This may provide a convenient,secure, and/or trusted user transaction. The user may be comfortable inpurchasing the content through his wireless provider as it may providemore of an appearance that it is provided from a known source. This maygenerate more of a ‘walled garden’ feel from the user's perspectivewhile allowing the user to search for and/or receive such content on theopen web. When the sponsor allows for payment of the content through thewireless provider payment facility 1810, the wireless provider 108 mayreceive a portion of the user's payment (or some other compensation) inreturn for the billing service.

In embodiments, the sponsor payment facility 1802 may be used to pay forsponsored links that were awarded and/or presented to a mobilecommunication facility 102. For example, once sponsored content isawarded and/or presented to the mobile communication facility 102, thebidding facility 1812 may request payment for the bid amount from thesponsor payment facility 1802. The sponsor payment facility 1802 maythen process payment to the wireless provider payment facility 1810, forexample.

FIG. 19 illustrates a sponsor entry facility user interface 1900 thatmay be provided to a sponsor when the sponsor interacts with the sponsorentry facility 1804. The user interface 1900 may include a criteriaentry facility 1902 where the sponsor may enter criteria that areimportant to its bid for placing sponsored content. For example, thecriteria entered in the criteria entry facility 1902 may relate to keywords, phrases, terms, lingo, sms codes, user profile, mobilecommunication facility display type, mobile communication facility type,phone type, mobile communication facility, mobile communication facilityprocessor type or capability, mobile communication facility operatingsystem, mobile communication facility third party software, mobilecommunication facility platform characteristics, mobile communicationfacility audio system, location, user gender, user purchase history,user age, favorites, click history, call history, time of day, day ofyear, mobile communication facility area code, user home address, homeregion, work address, work region, mobile subscriber characteristics andthe like.

The user interface 1900 may also include a bid entry facility 1904. Thebid entry facility may provide a sponsor with the ability to enter bidamounts and corresponding bid criteria. For example, a maximum bidamount may be associated with criteria such as keyword relevancy match.In embodiments the maximum bid may be associated with simple matchingcriteria (e.g. such as matching a keyword) or it may be associated witha more complicated sting or weighted string of terms, events, orcharacteristics. For example, while a sponsor may provide a maximum bidof $0.10 for a keyword match, it may provide a bid of $0.15 for acombination of keyword and location, or $0.20 for a combination ofkeyword, location and phone type. As another example, the sponsor maybid $0.15 for a bid associated with a location and time of day if thesearch is an implicit search. While certain illustrations of bidcriteria associated with bid amounts have been provided, it should beunderstood that the criteria matching may be any type of matchingincluding without limitation weighted function matching, algorithm-basedmatching or any other type of rule-based, algorithmic, heuristic, orother matching.

In embodiments, a sponsor desirous of presenting its content on a mobilecommunication facility may be presented a plurality of menu formats withwhich to create sponsor content including, but not limited to,advertisements, promotional notices, offers, and so on. For example, themenu system may provide a sponsor an entry menu within which it may bepossible for the sponsor to create a title for sponsor content, includean URL, street address, phone number, or other contact information. Itmay be possible to enter additional descriptive text, by line, byparagraph, and/or page.

In embodiments, a sponsor desirous of presenting its content on a mobilecommunication facility may be presented a plurality of menu formats withwhich to select the types of mobile communication facilities on whichthe sponsor would like to present the sponsor content. For example, thesponsor may wish to select a subset of mobile communication facilitymodels that are best suited for presentation of the sponsor's contentdue to technological requirements for the content to optimally present.A sponsor may choose to present only on mobile communication facilitymodels that are associated with other user characteristics that thesponsor would like to target (e.g., a cell phone model known to havehigh usage among college students).

In embodiments, a sponsor desirous of presenting its content on a mobilecommunication facility may be presented a plurality of menu formats withwhich to select the mobile communication facility platform and/orsoftware types on which the sponsor would like to present the sponsorcontent. For example, a sponsor may have content that requires aJava-enabled device. Therefore, it may be desirable for the sponsor toselect to present its content only on those mobile communicationfacilities that are Java-enabled.

In embodiments, a sponsor desirous of presenting its content on a mobilecommunication facility may be presented a plurality of menu formats fromwhich to select key words and/or key phrases to associate with thesponsor's information. The menus may present individual words, lists ofwords, and/or phrases for which a sponsor may enter a bid amount. Thebid amount may be a specific price, a price range, or a maximum pricethat the sponsor is willing to pay in order to have its contentassociated with the language.

In embodiments, a sponsor desirous of presenting its content on a mobilecommunication facility may be presented with keyword suggestions basedupon keywords entered and/or selected by the sponsor. For example, athesaurus may be employed to automatically present sponsors withadditional keywords that are related to the keywords in which a sponsormanifests an interest in bidding.

In embodiments, a sponsor desirous of presenting its content on a mobilecommunication facility may be presented a plurality of menu formats fromwhich to select geographic variables to associate with the sponsor'sinformation. The menus may present individual area codes, city names,state names, country names, location entered by a user and/or be basedupon GPS information derived from a location facility. Geographicinformation may also be presented in relation to other mobile subscribercharacteristics. For example, a sponsor in the hotel business may beinterested in having its content present to only those users that areoutside of their hometown and/or normal work region.

In embodiments, a sponsor desirous of presenting its content on a mobilecommunication facility may be presented a plurality of menu formats fromwhich to select demographic variables to associate with the sponsor'sinformation. The menus may present individual demographic variablescontained in the mobile subscriber characteristics database, such as,age, sex, race, address, income, billing history, purchase history, andso forth.

In embodiments, sponsors' content may be displayed on a mobilecommunication facility in a descending rank order based upon thesponsors' bid amounts.

In embodiments, sponsors' content may be displayed on a mobilecommunication facility in a descending rank order based upon the amountof shared revenue derived from sponsors.

In embodiments, sponsors' content may be displayed and/or ordered on amobile communication facility 102 based at least in part on using timeas a criteria.

In embodiments, sponsors' content may be displayed and/or ordered on amobile communication facility 102 based at least in part on a mobilesubscriber characteristic, such as, the user, device type, geography,transaction, and/or history.

In embodiments, sponsors' content may be displayed and/or ordered on amobile communication facility 102 based at least in part on therelevancy of the sponsored content. For example, relevancy may be basedupon the information contained in a sponsor's content and keywordsentered by a user in a query entry facility 120. Relevancy may be basedupon the sponsor's content and mobile subscriber characteristics, suchas, user, device type, geography, transaction, and/or history.

In embodiments, sponsors' content may be displayed and/or ordered on amobile communication facility 102 based at least in part on a groupingor aggregation of mobile subscriber characteristics. For example,sponsors' content may be displayed on the basis of users' age ranges(e.g., 20-30 year olds).

In embodiments, the amounts payable as a result of the sponsor billingprocess may be processed within the billing system of a wirelessprovider. For example, when the sponsor enters a wireless provider'sbidding system it may enter into an agreement with the wireless providersuch that any presented sponsored content is paid for. The payment maycome directly from the sponsor to the wireless provider, for example. Inembodiments, a user of the mobile communication facility may interactwith sponsored content (e.g. click on a sponsored line) and make atransaction within the sponsored content (e.g. the user may purchase amusic download, ringtone, wall paper or the like). In such embodiments,the purchase price of the purchased content may appear on the user'swireless provider bill, as opposed to being billed from the sponsor.

In embodiments, mobile communication facility users may be classified ona combination of mobile subscriber characteristics, device type,location, behavioral history, transaction history, or other parametersand the resulting classes presented in a menu format to sponsors forbidding. For example, it may be possible to statistically model the usercharacteristics within a population of a wireless provider's customerbase that are most likely to purchase tickets for a Caribbean cruise.Once this model is known, all customers with approximately the profiledescribed by the model could be grouped in a “Caribbean Cruisers”category. This category may then be included in a menu system, alongwith other categories, and presented to sponsors for bidding. Swimwearcompanies, sunglass companies, etc. may have an increased interest inbidding for access to the Caribbean Cruisers category because of theincreased probability that users in this category have a need for theirproducts. Summary of the many characteristics (variables) used in themodel into a single category may make the bidding process lesstime-consuming to sponsors and may constitute a proprietary product.Furthermore, the statistical model may be continually updated toaccommodate changing user preferences.

In embodiments, a sponsor's website may be evaluated to determine thefrequency of the appearance of key words and/or key phrases. Once thekeyword and/or key phrase frequency is known, a site relevancy score maybe derived indicating the relevance of keywords to the content of asponsor's website. This relevancy score may then be used to assistsponsors in their bidding, making it easier for sponsors to focus theirfinances on keywords and/or key phrases with the greatest relevancy totheir content.

In embodiments, the behaviors of mobile communication facility users maybe automatically collected and the bid values in the bidding systemadjusted to reflect user behaviors. For example, user calls, clicks,clickthroughs, purchases, and yield optimization may be automated andused to change the value of minimum or maximum bid values associatedwith a keyword.

In embodiments, an editorial review process may be used to evaluate theappropriateness of sponsors' selections of criteria with which toassociate their content. For example, it may be inappropriate to have asponsor associate adult content with keywords commonly associated withthe interests of children. The editorial process may assist in locatingand remedying such incongruities.

In embodiments, an automated spidering tool may be used to periodicallymonitor changes in sponsors' content and determine the reliability ofthe sponsor links. For example, a sponsor may update a website to suchan extent that the sponsor's content that was previously associated withkeywords through a bidding process is no longer reliable (i.e., thecontent is no longer located where the links direct a user). When thisoccurs, the system may send an alert to the sponsor indicating that thereliability of the sponsor content links is insufficient. They may serveto improve the overall reliability of the system.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, an advertisement 2004 may be presented to amobile communication facility 102 based at least in part on receiving awebpage request from the query facility of a mobile communicationfacility 102, receiving information associated with the mobilecommunication facility 102, and associating at least one advertisement2002 a with a webpage at least in part based on the information relatingto the mobile communication facility 102. For example, a user of amobile communication facility 102 may initiate a search query consistingof an explicit text query spelling a musician's name. The potentialsearch results that may be presented to the user's mobile communicationfacility 102 may include advertisements 2002 a, 2002 b and websites forthe musician's CD's, videos of his performances, etc. Alternatively, amobile communication facility user may enter an address request (e.g.,an internet URL) requesting a specific website devoted to a musician.This address request may in turn be associated with advertisements andother websites related to the musician's CD's, videos of hisperformances, etc. Information about the mobile communication facility102 (e.g., its video streaming capabilities) may be used in order todetermine which of the advertisement/webpage 2008 results may bepresented successfully to the user's mobile communication facility 102.This information may, in turn, be used to pair webpages andadvertisements 2004 that are each capable of presenting in the displayof the user's mobile communication facility 102.

In embodiments, an implicit query may be received from a user of amobile communication facility 102 and used at least in part to deriveassociations with advertisements 2004. For example, mobile subscribercharacteristics 112, carrier business rules 130, or mobile communicationfacility 102 information, in conjunction with time, location, or similarsituation, may suggest relevant advertisement-webpage 2008 pairingrecommendations for the user. The recommended advertisements 2002 may bepaired with webpages presented prior to, during, or following, thedisplay of the advertisement 2002 results. A content request may be madeby an implicit query request based at least in part on a mobilesubscriber characteristic 112. For example, a user's mobile subscribercharacteristics 112 may include the user's date of birth. Thus, animplicit query may be generated on the user's birthday in order to culladvertisements 2004 related to celebration of a birthday, discounts forcustomers on their birthdays, etc. A content request may be made animplicit query request based at least in part on a characteristic of auser's mobile communication facility 102. For example, if a mobilecommunication facility 102 type is associated with a demographic (e.g.,age), an implicit query may be initiated to cull advertisements 2004 ofprobable relevance to the user of that mobile communication facility 102type.

In embodiments, a user's prior search activities and search results mayalso be used to create implicit query requests for the user. Priorsearch activities may include transactions, search queries, visits towebsites, and other acts initiated by the user on the mobilecommunication facility 102. The geographic location of the mobilecommunication facility 102 may foster implicit queries including, butnot limited to, products and services in the user's current geographicvicinity. The current time may be used independently or in conjunctionwith other information to create implicit queries. For example, theindependent fact that it is noon, may initiate an implicit query forrestaurants serving lunch. As with the above restaurant example, similarprocesses for generating meaningful recommendations may be applied toother services and products, including, transportation, food, theater,sports, entertainment, movies, corporations, work, bank, post office,mail facility, gas, directions, locations, location, navigation, taxi,bus, train, car, airport, baby sitter, service provider, goods provider,drug store, drive through, bar, club, movie times, entertainment times,news, and local information.

In embodiments, an advertisement 2002 may be presented to a mobilecommunication facility 102 based at least in part on informationrelating to mobile subscriber characteristics 112. This information mayinclude a user's individual demographic variables contained in themobile subscriber characteristics database 112, such be age, sex, race,religion, an area code, zip code, a home address, a work address, abilling address, credit information, family information, income range,birth date range, birthplace, employer, job title, length of employment,an affiliation or other such information as described herein. The mobilesubscriber characteristic 112 may be associated with a personal filter.The mobile subscriber characteristic may be used in conjunction with acollaborative filter. The mobile subscriber characteristic 112 mayinclude an aggregate of user characteristics or include a range ofvalues. The range of values of a user characteristic may be a range of auser demographic. The range of values of a user characteristic may be arange of behaviors, or a range of age.

In embodiments, mobile subscriber characteristics 112 may formparameters that limit the advertisement 2002 search results to thoserelevant to a mobile subscriber characteristic 112 or profile ofmultiple characteristics. The display of advertisement 2002 resultset(s) may, thus, omit information, prioritize information (e.g.,presenting sponsor links prior to all others), highlight a subset of thesearch result set, or order the display of information based upon thepresence or absence of mobile subscriber characteristics 112. Examplesof representative elements that may be stored within the mobilesubscriber characteristics database 112 include location, personalinformation relating to a user, web interactions, email interactions,messaging interactions, billing history, payment history, typical billamount, time of day, duration of on-line interactions, number of on-lineinteractions, family status, occupation, transactions, previous searchqueries entered, history of locations, phone number, device identifier,type of content previously downloaded, content previously viewed, andsites visited.

In embodiments, at least one advertisement 2004 may be associated withat least one webpage at least in part based on the information relatingto a mobile subscriber characteristic 112 and mobile communicationfacility 102 characteristic combination. This information may provide anindication as to what the user may be looking for at a given time andlocation. For example, a user may be looking for transportation, food, atheater, sports, entertainment, movies, corporations, work, a bank, postoffice, mail facility, gas, directions, locations, location, navigation,taxi, bus, train, car, airport, baby sitter, service provider, goodsprovider, drug store, drive through, bar, club, movie times,entertainment times, news, and local information.

In embodiments, an advertisement 2004 may be presented to a mobilecommunication facility 102 based at least in part on informationrelating to a mobile communication facility 102. This information mayform parameters that limit the advertisement 2002 search results tothose compatible with, relevant to, or preferred for presentation on agiven type of mobile communication facility 102. The display ofadvertisement 2002 result set(s) may, thus, omit information, prioritizeinformation (e.g., presenting sponsor links prior to all others),highlight a subset of the search result set, or order the display ofinformation based upon the presence or absence of a mobile communicationfacility 102 or a feature of a mobile communication facility 102.Examples of representative elements that may be stored within the mobilesubscriber characteristics database 112 include search history, aparental control, or a carrier business rule 130, display resolution,processing speed, audio capability, visual capability, and othertechnical characteristics. For example, an advertisement 2004 may beassociated with only the subset of mobile communication facility 102models that are best suited for presentation of the advertisement's 2004content due to technological requirements for the content to optimallypresent. For example, an advertisement 2004 may have content thatrequires a Java-enabled device. Therefore, it may be desirable for theadvertisement 2004 to present its content only on those mobilecommunication facilities that are Java-enabled.

In embodiments, advertising and webpage content compatibility with atype of mobile communication facility 102 may be determined at least inpart by tracking a plurality of mobile communication facility 102interactions with such content. Information may be stored pertaining tothe advertising and web interactions in a database, where a portion ofthe information comprises identification of at least one mobilecommunication facility 102 from the plurality of mobile communicationfacilities, and predicting the compatibility of the mobile communicationfacility 102 with the content based, in part, on how many contentinteractions there were. The prediction of compatibility of the mobilecommunication facility 102 with content may be based, in part, on howmany interactions there were in the user's past. Content may be adownload, program, file, executable file, zipped file, compressed file,audio, and video. An advertising or web interaction may be a click on ahyperlink, an indication of downloaded content, and/or an indication ofa downloaded program.

In embodiments, advertising content may be associated with webpagecontent and the at least one mobile subscriber characteristic 112 and orthe at least one mobile communication facility 102 characteristic.

In embodiments, an advertisement 2004 may be associated with at leastone webpage based at least in part on information relating to a mobilecommunication provider. The information relating to a mobilecommunication provider may include, but is not limited to, a graphicaltrademark, audible signal, a recording of a person reading the slogantrademark of a mobile communication provider, a distinctive audio toneor combinations of tones associated with a mobile communicationprovider, or a video stream, such as an audio-visual commercial.

In embodiments, the past performance or other information relating to amobile communication facility may be stored, aggregated, and analyzed ona remote server 134 and database 138, wireless provider data facility124, the mobile communication facility, or other similar facilities.Past performance may include, but is not limited to, past contentinteraction, content download, audio content streaming, video contentstreaming, content contained in java cookies, content contained intemporary internet files stored on the mobile communication facility,past transaction information, and the like.

In embodiments, an algorithm facility 144 may perform algorithmsincluding algorithms for associating information relating to the pastperformance of a mobile communication facility or other informationrelating to the mobile communication facility. For example, an algorithmfacility may include an algorithm to determine the cumulative frequencyof a given past performance (e.g., downloading an MP3 file) within asingle mobile communication facility 102 or group of mobilecommunication facilities. Content may be categorized into a yellow-pageslike taxonomy and this taxonomy mapped onto the past performance of amobile communication facility 102 or group of mobile communicationfacilities. The taxonomies may then be ordered according a descendingorder of the cumulative rank associated with the mobile communicationfacility or group of mobile communication facilities. For example,applying such an algorithm to a user's mobile communication facilitypast performance may result in a content taxonomy cumulative frequencyrank similar to the following (e.g., where each number represents thecumulative, discrete content interactions): MP3: 92; Ringtones: 43;Online Musical Instrument Sites: 16; Newspaper websites; 2; BusinessWeek Magazine Website; 1. Based on this array of data, the relevancy ofcontent may be inferred and, as a result, content related to music(listening to and playing) given a higher priority rank than contentrelated to news.

In embodiments, an algorithm may also correlate past performances withina single mobile communication facility 102 or group of mobilecommunication facilities. For example, an algorithm may compute acorrelation coefficient to describe the association between the pastperformance of downloading an MP3 file and purchasing a concert ticketonline, using a mobile communication facility 102. This coefficient may,in turn, form the basis for ordering content for presentation to amobile communication facility 102. For example, it may be found thatwithin a single mobile communication facility past performances, or agroup of such facilities, the download of MP3 files is positivelycorrelated with online concert ticket purchases, with a coefficient of0.23, whereas download of MP3 files is positively correlated with thedownload of real estate listings with only a coefficient of 0.04. Thisinformation may be used to rank the relevancy of content such that aperson with a past performance of an MP3 download is presented contentrelated to concert ticket purchases more frequently than, withpreference to, with prioritized placement within the mobilecommunication facility display 172 over, to the exclusion of, and so on,any content related to real estate listings. This information may alsobe used to infer the appropriateness and likelihood of contentinteraction. For example, a mobile communication facility 102 with manypast performances of MP3 downloads, but no online concert ticketpurchases may be a prime candidate to receive ticket purchase contentand or receive ticket purchase content with priority over news content,and so forth.

In embodiments, the algorithm types described above may also be used toassess the relevancy, priority, positioning, placement, and so forth ofcontent based upon information associated with the mobile communicationfacility, a capability of the mobile communication facility, a userassociated with the mobile communication facility, an owner of themobile communication facility, mobile subscriber characteristic(s),carrier information or other information that may be used as a predictorof the likelihood of an interaction with the sponsored content. Thecapability of a mobile communication facility may include, but is notlimited to, audio capabilities, video capabilities, visual capabilities,processing capability, screen capability, and the like. Usercharacteristics may include, but are not limited to, user historyinformation, demographic information, transaction history, locationinformation, user billing information, personal filters, and the like. Amobile subscriber characteristic may include, but is not limited to,user transaction history, user location, personal information relatingto a user, user web interactions, email interactions, messaginginteractions, billing history, payment history, typical bill amount,time of day, duration of on-line interactions, number of on-lineinteractions, family status, occupation, previous search queries,history of locations, phone number, device identifier, type of contentpreviously downloaded, previous content viewed, websites visited, andthe like. Mobile subscriber characteristics may also include demographicinformation. Demographic information may include, but is not limited to,age, sex, race, religion, an area code, zip code, a home address, a workaddress, a billing address, credit information, family information,income range, birth date range, birthplace, employer, job title, lengthof employment, or an affiliation, and the like. A mobile serviceprovider characteristic may include, but is not limited to, a carrierbusiness rule, the geographic region in which the mobile serviceprovider's service is available to consumers, walled-garden content, andthe like.

In embodiments, interaction information relating to a mobilecommunication facility may be used to weight content, and the contentmay be ordered for presentation on a mobile communication facility 102based at least in part on the weighting. For example, interactioninformation may be based on transaction events, purchase history, userhistory, user characteristic, user device, geographic location, time,expertise, occupation, income bracket, home address, and the like. Auser who has made several online book purchases during the past weekrelated to baseball may, as a result of this past behavior, have sportscontent weighted favorably and prioritized for placement on his mobilecommunication facility 102. This interaction information may also beused to weight and prioritize content for other mobile communicationfacility users who share some attribute or plurality of attributes(e.g., age, income, etc.) with the user who purchased the baseballbooks. As interaction information is collected, it may be stored andanalyzed in the aggregate in order to derive weights for mobile contentand prioritize the presentation of content based upon informationrelating to mobile subscriber characteristics, mobile communicationfacility characteristics, and other information relating to users.

In embodiments, mobile content may include, but is not limited to,downloadable content, sponsored links, a URL, an email address, an FTPaddress, a phone call, and webpage address, an advertisement, asponsored content, an audio stream, a video, a graphic element, and thelike. In embodiments, information that may be related to interactioninformation may be segmented (e.g. an age range, income range, etc.).

In embodiments, mobile content interaction information may be derivedfrom mobile communication facilities, such as, a phone, a cell phone, amobile phone, a GSM phone, a personal digital assistant, a “pocket”personal computer, and the like.

In embodiments, the mobile content interaction information may be aplurality of mobile content interaction information. The weighting ofmobile content may be based upon a plurality of mobile contentinteraction information.

Interaction information relating to mobile content (e.g. a website,downloadable content, sponsored link, sponsored call, sponsored content,advertisement, search result, etc.) may be used to weight the content.In situations, the weighting is similar in nature to a link analysis buthere the number of separate interactions with the content may be used ina calculation to judge how popular or otherwise relevant the mobilecontent is. In embodiments, not every interaction with the mobilecontent is weighted equally. An interaction from a user that has agreater authority may be deemed more relevant or it may be deemed moreas an indication of the actual value of the mobile content and thereforethe interactions from this particular user may be provided a greaterweight. For example, two users may interact with a particular piece ofmobile content. The first user may have a little on-line history becausehe is a relatively new user of the web service provided through hismobile communication facility. The first user may interact with themobile content many times and this many interactions may be logged andused in a calculation to determine how popular the mobile content is.The second user may be a frequent user of web services through hismobile communication facility (e.g. as determined through mobilesubscriber characteristics as described herein elsewhere). This user mayinteract with the mobile content a limited number of times (e.g. once ortwice). The limited number of interactions may be used, in conjunctionwith the first users many interactions, to judge the popularity of themobile content. The second users few interactions may, however, be givena higher weight because he may be considered to have more authority inthe calculation because of his status as a frequent web services user ascompared with the beginner status of the first user. The result may beto significantly discount the first user's interaction history with themobile content and increase the reliance on the few interactions fromthe second user. This may effectively reduce the popularity ranking ofthe mobile content as compared to a calculation simply based on thenumber of interactions with the mobile content.

In embodiments, it is the user's apparent authority in predicting thevalue of the interaction that provides a weighting to the user's actualinteraction with mobile content. This user's authority can be used todecrease or increase the weighting of his interaction such that thepopularity, relevance or other such parameter of the mobile content isbased more heavily on interactions from authoritative users as opposedto just any user that happens to interact with the content. A user'sauthority may be based on their user history, transaction history,online behavior, web services usage, type of mobile communicationfacility or other parameter which is tracked, monitored, evaluated,measured, recorded or otherwise stored in relation to the mobilecommunication facility (e.g. mobile subscriber characteristics), forexample. The information relied on to evaluate the authority of the usermay be stored in the mobile communication facility associated with theuser or it may be stored remotely (e.g. in a mobile subscribercharacteristics database associated with the wireless provider). Whenstored with the wireless provider, or other third party, the wirelessprovider may be the entity providing the authority information orperforming the authority calculation.

In embodiments, each mobile communication facility user may be ratedwith a general and/or specific authority ranking. For example, a usermay have a history of using web services through his mobilecommunication facility and be deemed to have a high general authorityranking. The same user may have a history that suggests he is a frequentuser of local search systems so he may receive a specific high authorityranking for local mobile content interactions. In embodiments, thegeneral authority ranking may be based on the user's use of webservices, web content, websites, transactions, purchases, downloads,views, listens, streaming viewing or other such general webinteractions. In embodiments, the specific authority ranking may bebased on more specific categories of interactions such as localinteractions, implicit interactions (interactions resulting from animplicit search), pay per call interactions, sponsored linksinteractions, advertisement interactions, search result interactions orother such specific category of interaction. In embodiments, thespecific authority ranking may be based on a specific interaction suchas an interaction with a specific phone number, specific piece ofcontent (e.g. such as the highest ranked content known, such as thehighest ranked advertisement).

A sponsor using mobile content to sell its products or services within awireless platform 100 may find it advantageous to have informationregarding the expected value that it may derive from sponsoring a mobilecontent. By knowing an expected value associated with a mobile content,a sponsor may be able to select those sponsorship opportunities fromwhich it is most likely to derive revenue. The expected value may assista sponsor in budgeting for an advertising program based on the totalexpected revenue to be derived from an advertising program. Behavioralmetrics, such as clickthrough volume, and conversion volume may be usedto predict future consumer interactions with mobile content. Financialmetrics, such as product price, profit margin, and the like, may be usedto indicate the financial results of associating a given product withthe behavioral metrics related to a mobile content. Expected valuecalculations may be beneficial for sponsors such as advertisers,wireless information providers, wireless carriers, wireless operators,telecommunications providers, and the like.

In embodiments, an expected value calculation may indicate to a sponsorthe expected revenue that it may be predicted to receive from asponsorship, such as an advertising program. Such an expected revenuecalculation may be performed by multiplying a clickthrough parameterassociated with a mobile content by the conversion associated with thatcontent by the purchase price of the product that is the subject of thecontent. In this calculation, the clickthrough parameter may representthe cumulative number of times the content is accessed (i.e.,“clicked”), the click through rate, or other parameter associated withthe interactivity with the content. The conversion may represent thecumulative number of transactions, such as a purchase, associated withthe content, the transaction rate associated with the content, or otherparameter associated with the transactions associated with the content.The purchase price may be a manufacturer's suggested retail price, aprice explicitly set by the content provider, a price unique to aspecific user's conversion, or a product price resulting from some otherprice setting protocol. The expected revenue may also be calculated as abid-weighted revenue in which the expected revenue is multiplied by abid amount.

In embodiments, an expected value calculation may indicate to a sponsor,or wireless carrier, the expected margin that it may be predicted toreceive from a sponsorship, such as an advertising program. Such anexpected margin calculation may be performed by multiplying theclickthrough associated with a mobile content by the conversionassociated with that content by the margin of the product that is thesubject of the content. Margin may include, but is not limited to, anexpected advertiser margin, an expected wireless carrier's margin, theprofit margin associated with a product, and the like. The expectedmargin may also be calculated as a bid-weighted margin in which theexpected margin is multiplied by a bid amount.

In embodiments, an expected value calculation may indicate to a sponsor,or wireless carrier, the expected yield that it may be predicted toreceive from a sponsorship, such as an advertising program. Such anexpected yield calculation may be performed by multiplying a bidassociated with a mobile content by the clickthrough associated withthat content. Similarly, an expected conversion yield may be calculatedby multiplying a yield associated with a mobile content by theconversion associated with that content.

In embodiments, an expected value calculation may indicate to a sponsor,wireless carrier, wireless operator, or telecommunications provider theaverage time spent on a target website and the average depth of use atarget website by users visiting the website.

In embodiments, an expected value calculation related to a mobilecontent may be segmented by a characteristic associated with a mobilecommunication facility. For example the expected value may be segmentedby a characteristic including, but not limited to, a display capability,display size, display resolution, processing speed, audio capability,video capability, cache size, storage capability, memory capacity, andthe like. In embodiments, the expected value may also be segmented by amobile subscriber characteristic including, but not limited to, age,sex, race, religion, area code, zip code, home address, work address,billing address, credit information, family information, incomeinformation, birth date, birthplace, employer, job title, length ofemployment, user history, user transactions, geographic location, time,and the like. The segmented expected value may provide informationrelating to the expected value within a given segmentation.

One example, of many potential examples, of how an expected value may beused by a sponsor is described below. Content sponsors may seek tosponsor content that they believe is most likely to be accessed bypersons or entities interested enough in their products or services thata conversion (e.g., purchase) will result. One of the primary functionsof market research is to gain insight into consumer profiles that aremost associated with past conversions and to provide information onother consumer profiles that may represent the untapped market share ofconsumers currently unfamiliar with, but likely to purchase theprovider's products. For example, in a traditional medium such astelevision, a sponsor may purchase market research regarding thedemographic profile, number of viewers, length of average viewing time,etc. associated with a particular primetime situation comedy. Based onprior market research a sponsor may have regarding the profiles of itspast consumers, the sponsor may make an educated guess as to theappropriateness of sponsoring content (e.g. advertising) during thesitcom based on the level of concurrence between the sitcom viewers andthe sponsor's past consumers. The higher the level of concurrence thegreater the probability that purchases will result from the advertising,and the greater the expected value that the company may presume it willreceive on its advertising expenditures. Furthermore, the greaterspecificity with which a consumer profile may be described (e.g., not“California,” but rather “Area Code=90210”), the more accurately asponsor may potentially target its intended consumers and increase itsexpected value.

As previously described, a wireless search platform 100 may beassociated with a plurality of datasets from which consumer profiles maybe derived for use in targeting content (e.g. advertisements, sponsoredcontent, sponsored call numbers), deriving estimates of the expectedvalue associated with content, and expected value estimates for contentsegmented by information relating to a mobile communication facility. Byreceiving information on the clickthrough volume and conversion volumeassociated with content, a sponsor may forecast based upon it'sproducts' purchase prices, profit margins and the like an appropriatebid amount for a content and the probable financial results it willderive from sponsoring the content. A wireless platform 100 may includeinformation relating to a wireless provider 108, a mobile communicationfacility 102, mobile subscriber characteristics 112, location 110, andso forth. Thus, a sponsor may receive an expected value for mobilecontent that it may want to sponsor that is segmented by informationrelating to a mobile communication facility in order to identify themost profitable population within which to sponsor content.

For example, a sponsor specializing in Boston Red Sox memorabilia mayuse expected value data segmented by information such as a user's devicecharacteristics, demographics, and current location, to predict whichcontent and which population of mobile users may be associated with thegreatest expected value. The memorabilia company may find that there isa high expected value for sponsoring content that is associated with ahigh clickthrough and conversion volume among “men,” making “>$100,000per annum,” and whose current location is the “zip code” of Boston. Thislevel of expected value segmentation may allow the company to identifyand sponsor that content with a greater likelihood of financial benefitand minimize sponsorship of content that may be associated with littleor no likely benefit to the company.

In embodiments, sponsors may be offered an opportunity to bid for theplacement of content on a mobile communication facility display 172 anduser interface based upon an anticipated expected value that isassociated with the placement of the content. Such a bid may occur inthe form of an auction, a reverse auction, or a partially randomizedauction. The content that is the subject of a bidding process mayinclude, but is not limited to, an advertisement, a sponsored link (suchas an URL, email address, FTP address, or phone call), an advertisement,a sponsored call, an audio stream, a video, a graphic element, and thelike.

In embodiments, content that is the subject of the bidding process maybe placed on a query page, home page, search page, on a sponsored linksportion of the user interface, or on a page of the user interface thatmay be associated with a set of search results or a specific result.

The anticipated expected value may be determined by an expected valueestimation facility. The expected value estimation facility may be basedon an expected value calculation associated with a variable or variablesselected from the group consisting of the amount of the bid, thelocation of the media item in the user interface, the duration of thepresentation of the media item in the user interface, the probabilitythat a user will view the media item if placed in the user interface,the probability that the user will interact with the media item ifplaced in the user interface, the probability that the user will view,interact with and/or execute a transaction associated with the mediaitem, and the value of the transaction to the bidder, for example. Inembodiments, the expected value estimation facility may be dynamic inthat a change of a bid amount automatically adjusts the expected valueestimation based on this new economic data.

In embodiments, a bidder may be able to pre-select the location withinthe mobile communication facility display 172 that it seeks to placecontent. Similarly, duration of the time that the content displays mayalso be selected.

In embodiments, the probability that a user will view, interact with,and/or execute a transaction in association with content may be basedupon mobile subscriber characteristics 112, mobile communicationfacility 102 type, mobile communication facility 102 characteristics,and other data types that may be part of, or related to, a wirelessplatform 100. Examples of mobile subscriber characteristics includes,but is not limited to, age, sex, race, religion, area code, zip code,home address, work address, billing address, credit information, familyinformation, income information, birth date, birthplace, employer, jobtitle, length of employment, and the like. Examples of mobilecommunication facility 102 type includes, but is not limited to, aphone, cellular phone, mobile phone, GSM phone, a personal digitalassistant, and or a “pocket” personal computer. Examples of mobilecommunication facility 102 characteristics includes, but is not limitedto, display capability, display size, display resolution, processingspeed, audio capability, video capability, cache size, storagecapability, memory capacity, and the like.

In embodiments, the value of a transaction to a bidder (i.e. theexpected value to the bidder) may be based on one or more of the priceof an item described in the media item, the net price of an itemdescribed in the media item, the cost of the item described in the mediaitem, the value of the attention of a user to the media item, the valueof the brand presented in the media item, value attributed to thegoodwill of the mobile subscriber, value attributed to multiple itemspresented in the media item, the revenue associated with a transactionexecuted by a mobile subscriber in connection with interaction with themedia item, the net revenue associated with a transaction executed by amobile subscriber in connection with interaction with the media item,and the probability that executing a transaction associated with themedia item will result in another transaction with the bidder. Value maybe expressed as a net present value, a discounted rate, or a discountedvalue. A bidder may be able to personally adjust the discount rate.

In embodiments, a bidder may be able to enter an item of data associatedwith one or more of the amount of the bid, the location of the mediaitem in the user interface, the duration of the presentation of themedia item in the user interface, the probability that a user will viewthe media item if placed in the user interface, the probability that theuser will interact with the media item if placed in the user interface,the probability that the user will execute a transaction associated withthe media item, and the value of the transaction to the bidder.

As was described above for the process of bidding on the presentation ofcontent based at least in part on the anticipated expected valueassociated with the content's display, so too may a bidding processpresent an opportunity to bid based upon an anticipated yield associatedwith the display of a given content. A yield estimation facility may bebased on an yield calculation associated with a variable selected fromthe group consisting of the amount of the bid, the location of the mediaitem in the user interface, the duration of the presentation of themedia item in the user interface, the probability that a user will viewthe media item if placed in the user interface, the probability that theuser will interact with the media item if placed in the user interface,and the probability that the user will execute a transaction associatedwith the media item.

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with certainpreferred embodiments, other embodiments will be recognized by those ofordinary skill in the art, and all such variations, modifications, andsubstitutions are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure.Thus, the invention is to be understood with reference to the followingclaims, which are to be interpreted in the broadest sense allowable bylaw.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for mobile comparison shopping, thesystem comprising one or more computers having computer readable mediumshaving stored thereon instructions which, when executed by one or moreprocessors of the one or more computers, causes the system to performthe steps of: receiving a product selection from a mobile communicationfacility; identifying merchants that sell products associated with theproduct selection; receiving information relating to the mobilecommunication facility; and presenting an ordered list of merchantsselling the product, wherein the ordering is based at least in part onthe information relating to the mobile communication facility.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication facility is a phone.3. The system of claim 1, wherein the product selection is receivedthrough a search query.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the searchquery is an explicit search.
 5. The system of claim 3, wherein thesearch query is an implicit search.
 6. The system of claim 1, whereinthe product selection is received through a clickthrough.
 7. The systemof claim 1, wherein the product selection is received through a barcode.8. The system of claim 1, wherein the product selection is receivedthrough a text entry.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the informationrelating to the mobile communication facility is a user characteristic.10. The system of claim 1, wherein the information relating to themobile communication facility is a user history.
 11. The system of claim1, wherein the information relating to the mobile communication facilityis a user transaction.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein theinformation relating to the mobile communication facility is ageographic location.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the informationrelating to the mobile communication facility is a time.
 14. The systemof claim 1, wherein the information relating to the mobile communicationfacility is location.